COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., March 22, 2023: In recent months, there have been reports of Artificial Intelligence (AI) making advances in competencies related to occupational fields millions of people depend on for jobs, including graphic design, writing, content creation, and even law and medicine. This has raised questions about the impact AI could have on the future employability of millions.
In response to this, Junior Achievement USA conducted a survey of teens that shows 66 percent are concerned that they will not be able to find a good job as adults due to AI, with 32 percent being “Very” or “Extremely” concerned. Despite this, most teens (71%) think recent technological innovations are “a good thing,” and virtually all (92%) would be interested in courses in school that promote skills related to AI. The survey of 1,005 teens between 13 and 17 was conducted by Big Village between February 28 – March 5, 2023.
“We at Junior Achievement believe this is a watershed moment in technology, and it’s going to impact the future of work,” said Jack E. Kosakowski, President and CEO of Junior Achievement USA. “Every 10 to 15 years, we have a technological breakthrough that negatively impacts some jobs while creating new industries and career fields. We saw this with personal computers in the early 80s, the Internet in the mid-90s, smart devices and social media about 15 years ago, and now AI. That’s why Junior Achievement is engaging partners in the business community to support the development of new learning experiences to educate young people about AI.”
Additional survey findings include:
- 86% of survey respondents noted they were “Interested” STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) topics in school, with 57% being “Very” or “Extremely Interested.”
- Despite their concerns about the impact of AI on future employment, 79% of teens believe they will find a good-paying and rewarding job as adults.
