Higher education leaders are urging colleges to prepare students for skill disruptions from AI, while one new analysis argues job disruption narratives may be overstated for now. The report cites research that young workers’ hiring slowdowns reflect broader job-opening contraction, but also finds AI-skills demand explains a meaningful share of employment shifts among ages 18–24. From April 2023 to December 2025, the growing demand for AI skills in jobs accounted for about 45% of employment declines for 18–24-year-olds and one-third of rising unemployment. The findings emphasize that AI is raising expectations and skill requirements beyond strictly technical roles. The article points to a growing need for curricula and career services to build AI readiness, while distinguishing between near-term overall labor-market conditions and longer-run skill mismatches.