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Sounding the Alarm: The Narrowing Path to Work

A new white paper from Express Employment Professionals highlights why protecting entry-level jobs matters for workforce readiness and long-term economic health.

How first-time workers benefit from working entry-level jobs - A new white paper from Express Employment ProfessionalsEntry-level work has long been the first rung on America’s economic ladder, but new research from an Express Employment Professionals–Harris Poll survey suggests that rung is slipping away, creating ripple effects that extend beyond today’s job seekers to the workforce of the future.

This white paper examines how higher skill demands, automation, and fewer true entry‑level openings are compressing the bottom of the labor market and weakening the foundation of future talent pipelines.

Key takeaways include:

  • The modern economy is putting a squeeze on entry-level jobs—reducing opportunities while increasing expectations for “entry-level” candidates.
  • Employers and job seekers broadly agree that entry-level roles now require more skills than in the past.
  • AI adoption is accelerating and is a meaningful factor in the pressure on entry-level tasks and headcount.
  • Entry-level work remains essential for building future talent pipelines, soft skills, and long-term employability.
  • The “human touch” is not going away; as automation expands, human judgment and relationship-based work increase in value. 

WHAT EMPLOYERS SAY:

  • More than 4 in 5 hiring managers say entry-level jobs require candidates to possess more skills than in the past.
  • 60% add it’s more efficient to use AI for entry-level tasks than to hire and train a candidate.

WHAT JOB SEEKERS SAY:

  • Nearly all job seekers (96%) report that entry-level jobs are important for ensuring workers grow within a company.
  • 90% say these positions provide workers with skills that are critical to career progression, such as problem-solving and communication. 

GET FULL ACCESS TO THE WHITE PAPER—FREE!

Download the full white paper to explore what these trends mean for employers and what comes next.

Inside, you’ll find expanded survey data, expert interpretation, and a clearer picture of how changing expectations for entry-level work could impact talent pipelines, productivity, and workforce development.

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