“AI로 인한 청년의 진짜 위기는 일자리보다 ‘경험의 경로’ 단절” [인터뷰]

Onset of the AI era is fundamentally reshaping the employment and learning ecosystems for the younger generation, as cited by experts interviewed by The Korea Herald on the upcoming 'World Youth Day' day. The most immediate risk detected in the workplace is the loss of judgment and expertise due to AI-assisted assistance. Dr. Konie Buyundo-Dakuucu from the Philippine Development Research Institute explained that while AI-assisted tasks may initially appear efficient, they gradually erode the ability to independently judge and resolve issues, a phenomenon known as 'skill decay'.

This persistent issue may lead to a critical structural crisis where managers lack the capacity to make complex and important decisions within five to ten years. The International Labour Organization's 2026 World Employment and Social Outlook report highlights that 29.5% of young adults aged 15-24 in high AI exposure sectors, compared to 18.4% in moderately exposed sectors, are at risk of AI-induced job displacement and automation.

The report suggests that middle-exposure occupations are more likely to form a complementary relationship between humans and technology. To overcome this crisis, young people must act as 'gatekeepers' in validating AI outputs and adopt a portable skills certification system to compensate for the lack of on-the-job experience. The problem begins in pre-adult education systems, where AI-assisted homework leads to a 18% increase in scores but a 20% drop in test scores and a 18-24% decline in entrance exam scores.

Similarly, AI chatbots that provide only answers in the Turkish benchmark test have caused severe learning losses, denying students essential experiential learning pathways. The expert urges a regulatory review of universal AI chatbots. To bridge the broken experience ladder, national and societal educational system redesigns are necessary.

Economists like Miguel Sanchez Martines of the International Labour Organization emphasize that to fully benefit from AI, digital literacy and critical thinking are essential, and the education system must be restructured to equip the younger generation with knowledge and skills AI cannot replace. Differentiated response strategies are proposed based on national income levels.

High-income countries should protect young people from losing skilled opportunities by safeguarding career advancement pathways and establishing AI-related reeducation programs, while middle-income countries should prioritize policy preferences to ensure technical skills align with the direction of the AI era. For low-income countries, it is crucial to increase the foundation of basic employment opportunities rather than focusing on technology advancement.

Martines Economiste stresses that the challenge for low-income country youth lies in the scarcity of quality jobs and stable career prospects, emphasizing the need for large-scale job creation and foundational digital skill enhancement.