Traditionally, the transition from classroom to career followed a familiar path: land an entry-level job, learn more through hands-on experience and continue building from there. That first job wasn\u2019t just employment; it was valuable career training. Entry-level employment was how new workers developed judgment and the ability to translate theory into practice. But across a growing number of industries, that important first rung of the career ladder is now disappearing.<\/p>\n
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly automating many of the tasks that once defined entry-level roles, contributing to a decline in demand for some positions<\/a> while reshaping the responsibilities and skill sets required for others. In the process, the traditional bridge between education and employment is beginning to erode. In fact, 66% of hiring managers<\/a> say most recent hires are not fully prepared for their roles, mainly due to a lack of experience.<\/p>\n But even before AI, other opportunities that historically played a vital role in connecting education and employment were disappearing. In 2023, nearly 4.6 million students<\/a> who wanted internships could not secure one. Yet 87% of employed graduates say internships helped them land their job, while more than half of those without an internship believe it hurt their job prospects, according to\u00a0our Cengage\u2019s Graduate Employability Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n As internships become harder to access and AI reshapes entry-level jobs, the result is a widening experience gap, leaving new workforce entrants without opportunities to apply what they have learned in real-world settings.<\/p>\n Colleges Must Redesign How Experience Is Delivered<\/p>\n At its core, the goal of education is to prepare individuals for employment and advancement. But as AI alters the nature of entry-level work, institutions can no longer assume students will gain practical experience after graduation. Increasingly, workforce readiness must be embedded directly into the educational experience itself.<\/p>\n Students themselves are signaling this need. More than half (56%)<\/a> of graduates who feel unprepared for entry-level roles say they lacked job-specific skills, while 79% of Gen Z<\/a> believe it\u2019s important to have on-the-job learning experience during their post-secondary education. By leaning into\u00a0seizing\u00a0this opportunity to help close the emerging experience gap, institutions will not only educate students but ensure they are prepared for today\u2019s workforce. Here\u2019s how institutions can best accomplish this:<\/p>\n 1. Embed experience directly into the curriculum\u00a0<\/p>\n Experiential learning must be built into the core of higher education, not treated as an add-on. That can take many forms, from immersive simulations and virtual or augmented reality tools that mirror real workplace scenarios to project-based learning that allows students to solve real business challenges as part of their coursework. As automation takes over more procedural and repetitive tasks, employers increasingly value skills such as judgment, adaptability, communication and problem-solving \u2013 capabilities best developed through hands-on experiences. Additionally, when real-world application is integrated into the curriculum, every student,\u00a0not just a select few,\u00a0graduates with the needed hands-on experience.<\/p>\n 2. Build deeper partnerships with employers<\/p>\n Closer alignment with employers is critical to ensuring education keeps pace with workforce needs. Employers bring a real-time understanding of in-demand skills and evolving industry trends\u00a0\u2014\u00a0insight that is invaluable for both educators and learners. This becomes especially important as AI accelerates how quickly workplace tools, workflows,\u00a0and expectations evolve. Static degree programs alone cannot adapt quickly enough to keep pace with technological change without deeper employer collaboration.<\/p>\n