CHARLOTTE, N.C. \u2014\u00a0Artificial intelligence has been changing the way companies work, and now, it\u2019s also changing how they hire.<\/p>\n
Research from Revelio Labs shows entry-level job postings in the U.S. are down 35% since early 2023, with AI playing a major role.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know<\/p>\n
Entry-level job postings in the U.S. are down 35% since early 2023, with employers citing AI as the cause
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In 2025,\u00a0AI was tied to more than 54,000 layoffs
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96% of Queen’s University of Charlotte 2025 graduates found a position within 6 months of graduating<\/p>\n
For new college graduates, this shift in the job market means fewer openings and more competition for their first job.<\/p>\n
Numbers from outplacement firm Challenger show AI was tied to over 54,000 layoffs last year, making an already competitive job market even tougher to navigate.<\/p>\n
The changing landscape is what made Queens University of Charlotte senior Omari Emmanuel pursue a degree in Data Analytics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe college recruiting process for full-time internships is severely competitive, now more than ever,\u201d Emmanuel said.<\/p>\n
For international students like Emmanuel, the path from the classroom to a career isn\u2019t as clear as it used to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very competitive cycle, and having to hear my friend, who was also just a recently finished freshman, having to recruit for junior year summer internships, that was when I had an epiphany of having to take the process very seriously,\u201d Emmanuel said.<\/p>\n
Emmanuel is not alone in his experience, as new data from Cengage Group reveals only 30% of college graduates landed a full-time job in their field in 2025, down sharply from the year before.<\/p>\n
With AI automating tasks that used to be entry-level, staff at Queens University\u2019s Center for Career Development say they are now helping students navigate fewer jobs and higher employer expectations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this day and age, it\u2019s not enough just to write a good resume and cover letter. What we\u2019re constantly doing is educating ourselves on trends in applications, in what employers are looking for,\u201d Angela Tsuei-Strause said, executive director at the Vandiver Center for Career Development.<\/p>\n
For Emmanuel, that meant he had to do more to stand out among other applicants, like leaning on internships to help bridge the gap AI was creating.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish I could have done five, four internships, but obviously that\u2019s not possible. After I had my first internship experience, that opened my eyes to what career I would like to do and what I\u2019m interested in,\u201d Emmanuel said. \u201cI think it\u2019s very, very important to start early as a college student and with the recruiting process to be able to get a full-time job.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to new numbers<\/a> from Queens University, 96% of its 2025 graduates found a position within six months of graduating.<\/p>\n In May, Emmanuel will be going to New York to start a career in his field.<\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram at\u00a0spectrumnews1nc<\/a>\u00a0for news and other happenings across North Carolina.<\/p>\n