Nkosinathi Mahlangu | Head | Youth Employment Portfolio | Momentum Metropolitan Foundation | mail me |
Should graduates be worried about Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
AI is changing what it means to step into the job market. At the same time, it is opening doors for those ready to learn. Graduation is a moment of arrival. It represents the first exciting step into adulthood, independence and the beginning of a career. Yet for many young South Africans, once the cap is tossed and the gown folded away, the celebration quickly gives way to reality.
AI career impact – pathways for young graduates
Almost half (46,1%) of all youth aged 15-34 are unemployed (Q1: 2025). Even a hard-earned degree no longer guarantees entry into the workforce. Now, AI adds another layer of doubt. Will the careers young people have studied or trained for still be waiting? Or will technology move faster than their opportunities?
That anxiety is not unfounded. Across industries, AI systems are beginning to take on tasks once done by entry-level professionals. Algorithms can now scan contracts, generate reports, comb through datasets, and even write computer code. These are precisely the kinds of duties that often formed the training ground for young graduates.
With those stepping-stone tasks increasingly automated, the pathway into work is narrowing just as more young people arrive at its entrance. The question of AI and graduate jobs is not about replacement, but about transformation. However, this is not the first time people have feared being pushed aside by technology. When computers arrived in offices and automation spread across factory floors, predictions of mass job losses circulated widely. In reality, most jobs changed rather than disappeared. At the same time, new positions arose from the introduction of those same technologies.
AI will not take jobs but enhance certain areas while bringing about new opportunities to upskill the workforce and job seekers.
Financial advice is an example to illustrate this. While ‘robo advice’ and online platforms selling insurance products are on the rise, many people still prefer a financial adviser when they want a more human, nuanced view or a plan tailored to their unique circumstances.
In the same way, AI is likely to change how jobs are done, not wipe them out altogether. Still, I warn against complacency. AI-related career paths need to be introduced at the high school level and reflected in tertiary courses. Without closer alignment between classrooms and industry, graduates risk entering the market with outdated skills while employers search in vain for the talent they need.
Training graduates for an AI world
One place where these ideas are already being put into practice is the Faith Mangope Technology and Leadership Institute (FMTALI), our partner.
Our students train for international certifications in the cloud platform Microsoft Azure, AI fundamentals, Java software development, and Microsoft Power BI for data analytics. These are not abstract skills but practical ones. Just as important is how the students themselves view the field. Instead of seeing AI as something too advanced or overwhelming, they see it as an exciting chance to be innovators who will shape the future of technology. The results are easy to see. Graduates have gone on to jobs at banks, start-ups and global tech firms. Current students placed in the top four at the Momentum Hackathon. They demonstrated not just technical ability but also creativity in solving real problems.
– Bongi Zulu, Programme Coordinator at FMTALI
These examples prove that with the right access, AI isn’t something to fear. It is a way for young people to get their start. Here again, AI and graduate jobs intersect as technology opens fresh opportunities.
Closing gaps and creating new jobs
There are obstacles facing young South Africans. In many communities, laptops, reliable internet and computer labs are still luxuries. Gender inequality deepens the gap, with young women still underrepresented in IT courses and tech workplaces.
FMTALI tackles these gaps directly by providing hardware, training and spaces where girls are encouraged into leadership roles. By equipping students with internationally recognised certifications, we give them both the confidence and the tools to compete in the global job market.
Businesses also need to come to the table. Internships, job shadowing and genuine partnerships with training providers can ensure the pipeline from classroom to career does not break down. Too often, programmes look good on paper but fail to create sustainable jobs. This leaves young talent waiting at the door of industries that claim to need them.
The importance of lifelong learning
Even with stronger alignment, some jobs are likely to shrink. Administrative functions, routine data processing, and entry-level roles in law, accounting or journalism are especially vulnerable. Yet new roles are opening. Cybersecurity analysts, data scientists, machine learning engineers and AI ethics specialists are already in demand.
Entrepreneurship is also shifting. For small businesses, AI can act like an extra pair of hands. It can draft proposals, manage invoices or answer customer queries while founders focus on growth.
Still, not every path to work is digital. No AI exists that can rewire a faulty circuit, repair a burst pipe, or install a solar panel. Vocational careers such as plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, mechanics and other trades remain essential. They offer young people not only reliable employment but also the chance to build businesses of their own.
The through line is adaptability. The world of work brings both uncertainty and opportunity. Being innovative, networking and even volunteering can open a world of career opportunities.
In conclusion
For graduates, the message is practical. They should expect to keep learning long after formal education ends.
Young people are urged to take advantage of any opportunity to start building their AI or tech-related skills. Even a free course or a webinar can be enough to start. These are small but powerful ways to immerse yourself in the industry and see what areas resonate most with you. This approach shows how AI and graduate jobs can align when students commit to lifelong learning.
AI will not solve South Africa’s unemployment crisis. At the same time, it will not single-handedly make it worse. If institutions, businesses and policymakers work together, AI can be a bridge rather than a barrier. For young South Africans, the real choice is not whether the technology is coming. It is how they step forward to shape the future alongside it.
