Gen Z Claims AI Renders College Degrees Useless: Here’s Why They Might Be Right

Picture yourself sinking into substantial debt because you were assured that a college degree was essential for survival, only to discover that might not be the case, especially with the advancement of artificial intelligence.

Actually, this scenario might already be familiar to many of us.

Recent studies show that as of January 2024, a staggering 52 percent of job listings in the U.S. on platforms like Indeed no longer specify a need for formal education—a notable increase from 48 percent in 2019.

Furthermore, the share of job openings that required at least a bachelor’s degree has dropped from 20.4 percent to 17.8 percent over the past five years. While this trend might be encouraging for the 64 percent of U.S. adults without a bachelor’s degree, it’s less thrilling for those who have invested heavily in their college education only to find its value diminishing in the job market.

Many graduates are now grappling with massive student loan debt while trying to make ends meet in a challenging economy. They find themselves competing for the same jobs as those who haven’t spent a dime on higher education. This isn’t to undermine the value of choosing not to pursue college; in fact, those who skipped the debt might seem to have the upper hand now.

The shifting job landscape, where artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT are used for tasks ranging from writing and research to graphic design and even therapy, is causing some to question the necessity of a college degree. Why hire a degree-holder when AI can handle the job?

Linsey Fagan, Indeed’s Senior Talent Strategy Advisor, predicts that generative AI will eventually affect every job sector. She emphasizes the importance of every employee understanding AI and its applications within their company.

“Leadership is crucial in helping teams adapt by evaluating their needs and supporting their development with AI,” Fagan noted in a communication with CIO Dive.

She also highlighted that for organizations to fully leverage AI, they must invest in their workforce by providing training and opportunities to work with new technologies in a supportive setting. It’s vital for employees to be eager to use these tools and integrate them into their daily tasks.

So, it seems that not only does the traditional college degree appear to be losing its luster, but now graduates may also need to seek additional training in AI to stay competitive. What a twist in the educational narrative!