MIT research scientist Andrew McAfee warned that over-automating entry-level roles—especially for Gen Z—could backfire by interrupting the “apprenticeship ladder” that builds future workers’ skills. McAfee argues that organizations often rely on on-the-job learning to teach difficult knowledge work, and that removing entry-level jobs too quickly can reduce the pipeline that produces tomorrow’s leaders. He also ties the risk to demographic learning dynamics, noting Gen Z’s higher reported AI tool usage. The piece links these concerns to weakening entry-level hiring signals, citing declines in Handshake entry-level postings and a New York Fed metric showing unemployment among recent college grads. For higher education institutions, the development raises pressure to strengthen career services, apprenticeships, co-ops, and employer partnerships that preserve learning pathways amid AI-driven workplace restructuring.