Entry-level job market pressure and the value of real-world experience

Multiple data points confirm AI is squeezing entry-level hiring: Stanford study shows widening gap for young workers (15% to 19%) and emphasizes tacit knowledge from real-world projects; Richmond Fed brief finds AI-exposed workers across experience levels face steep drops in job-finding rates; July jobs report shows shift from screen-based to floor-based roles. This reinforces the need for portfolio artifacts, apprenticeships, and hands-on capstones over pure certifications.