Young men leaving U.S. workforce as AI threatens entry-level jobs

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that labor force participation for men aged 16 to 24 fell to 56.1%, down almost 13 percentage points from 2000, while the share of young men who are not looking for work at all has risen to 8%, double the 1990s level. Analysts attribute part of the decline to artificial-intelligence-related displacements in entry-level roles, with AI cited in many recent layoff notices. Ben Smith of the American Institute for Boys and Men cautioned that occupations traditionally held by men may be especially vulnerable.

Maria Flynn of Jobs for the Future warned that early career gaps can erode skill building, networking and earnings potential. Meanwhile, women now hold slightly more jobs than men for the third time in U.S. history, driven by growth in healthcare and social assistance, sectors where men are underrepresented. Trade programs, such as those run by Paul Iaccarino’s Building Trades Educational Benefit Fund, are seeing higher enrollment of Gen Z participants, yet many young men remain disengaged from both work and education.