The State of Jobs Today (and What We Can Do About It)
The State of Jobs Today (and What We Can Do About It)
A couple of months ago, a friend texted me, full panic-mode activated:
“The company ghosted me after four rounds.”
Another friend? Over 80 job applications but zero interviews.
Me? I was refreshing my emails like it was Instagram and hoping for that subject line that screams, “You’re hired!”
Let’s be real: we’re not lazy. We’re not clueless. But lately, it feels like the jobs we studied for, sacrificed weekends for, are disappearing overnight. And it’s not just in our heads. The workplace is changing faster than ever, and the AI future we imagined has already arrived.
AI Threat is Here
If you’ve felt blindsided by AI’s impact, you’re not alone. Technologies that once made work easier now seem to compete for the same roles we worked so hard to qualify for. In 2025, whole HR departments at big firms like IBM were replaced by algorithms. The World Economic Forum suggests 92 million jobs around the world could be displaced by AI, yet 78 million jobs both in tech and across other industries would also be created in the next few years.
Yes, there’s disruption, but the numbers prove that there’s opportunities hidden in the noise.
The Drought Is Real for Entry-Level Opportunities
Gen Z, fresh graduates, and even mid-career switchers have seen the entry-level roles dry up. Internships are scarce. Tech companies like Microsoft have laid off approximately 6,000 employees in May 2025 and another 9,000 in July, signaling broader hiring and campus recruitment slowdowns in the tech industry. Suddenly, a “fresher with five years’ experience” feels like the baseline. The old advice “apply what you’ve learned” hits different when experience matters more than what’s on paper.
There were months I stared at my screen, unfinished drafts piling up, wondering if my writing still mattered in a world where algorithms could create endless content in a span of seconds. Each rejection email felt a little sharper. “Not enough experience,” “not quite the right fit,” or even complete silence from the other end. Some days, it was hard to tell what hurt more: the silence, or the creeping feeling that we were all being quietly replaced by code.
We’re in a race, but the other side isn’t a person. It’s a system built to beat the curve. AI can process data and regurgitate information at lightning speed, but it can’t replicate human ingenuity, empathy, or the ability to connect ideas in ways machines can’t fathom. In the end, it’s your creativity, problem-solving, and the skills you’ve mastered that define you as a professional, and that’s your real competitive edge.
The New Currency Is Skills (Not Just Degrees)
Degrees can get you to the doors, but skills and adaptability help you open them and keep you in the room. The rules have changed: jobs go to those who can speak the language of today. Being “ready” means being prepared for what’s to come.
Certification alone isn’t enough or a shortcut to securing a job, but it can be a turning point in your career. It could be real, demonstrable proof that you can do the job. Enough to walk into interviews with evidence and enthusiasm to back up your story.
Opportunity Hides in Change
Yes, AI is speeding up. Yes, competition is fierce. But here’s the pivot: job markets are changing, not closing. New roles, ones we haven’t even imagined yet, are emerging for those willing to adapt and upskill.
The playbook isn’t closed. It’s being rewritten right now, and you can still grab a pen.
To the Quiet Warriors
So, here’s to the learners. The doers. The ones juggling open tabs and new skills instead of giving up. This market is tough, but you are tougher. The future is still hiring even if the rules are slightly changed.
You’ve got this. And so does the future, if you’re willing to meet it.