Almost four years have passed since ChatGPT appeared. In that time, the mass use of artificial intelligence (AI) has not caused mass unemployment, but a growing body of research shows that change appears first where people start their careers: in entry-level jobs for young people. This article briefly reviews what the research shows, why AI’s role remains disputed, and what this means for Georgia.
Young people are being hired less
According to a Stanford University study, by June 2026 employment of 22 to 25 year olds in the occupations most exposed to AI was 19 percent below its expected level, meaning the level it would have reached had it changed in the same way as their peers’ employment in less exposed occupations. The decline appears mainly where AI automates work. Companies are not laying young people off; they are simply hiring fewer of them. Studies from Harvard, the US Census Bureau and Danmarks Nationalbank show similar results, although AI has not yet caused mass unemployment across the economy as a whole.
AI is not the only cause
In the US, software development postings peaked in February 2022, before ChatGPT appeared, and have fallen since. Economists point to other causes as well: higher interest rates, remote work, which makes training and hiring junior staff harder, and a correction in the technology sector. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), evidence confirming AI’s impact on young workers is “so far limited”. Whatever the cause, finding a job has become harder for young people: in the US, entry-level postings fell by 7.5 percent in 2026, while postings for experienced specialists rose by 14.7 percent.
What it means for Georgia
In Georgia, the problem of youth employment existed long before AI: unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds was 28.9 percent in 2024, while overall unemployment was 13.9 percent in 2025. The ISET Policy Institute estimates that about 26 percent of workers are in occupations that generative AI affects to some degree. It is therefore important that universities give students the skills that remain valuable when working alongside AI, and that the state records entry-level and experienced vacancies separately, so that changes become visible in time.
This article is based on a report prepared by the academic team of Business and Technology University (BTU) and BTUAI, drawing on publicly available statistics, studies and industry reports. The full report, with charts and sources, is available attached.
Citation: Business and Technology University (BTU) and BTUAI. (2026). AI and Young People’s Employment: What It Means for Georgia. Tbilisi, Georgia.