50-55% of early-career workloads are now AI-augmented and this is not a future scenario. This is today’s reality, where entry-level workers are contributing to complex projects on day one and delivering insights in hours instead of weeks, explains Michelle Vaz at AWS Training and Certification.
AI presents an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate innovation and create new types of jobs. For early-career professionals who embrace this transformation, AI offers the potential to have meaningful impact and open up new possibilities.
To better understand the AI-driven transformation of the workforce and its implications, AWS partnered with Draup, a data intelligence firm specialising in workforce planning and talent analytics, to conduct a comprehensive study: The Evolution of Early-Career Technical Roles in the AI Era.
The research reveals a compelling paradox: while young adult unemployment has reached 6.6%, the highest in a decade outside the pandemic, AI is simultaneously making many technical roles more accessible to those just starting their careers. The catch? These roles now require mastery of more complex skills, as AI has automated many traditional entry-level tasks.
The findings are striking: 50-55% of early-career workloads are now AI-augmented. This is not a future scenario; this is today’s reality, where entry-level workers are contributing to complex projects on day one and delivering insights in hours instead of weeks.
As someone who has spent decades at the intersection of technology and workforce development, I have witnessed many transformations. But none compare to this fundamental shift. AI is revolutionising both how work gets done and who can do it, creating unprecedented opportunities for those willing to embrace these new, more sophisticated skillsets.
Let us explore the high-growth roles that are being transformed by AI.
AI-assisted tools are democratising tasks that once required years of experience, creating new opportunities across the technology industry. The research identified five key roles where AI’s impact is creating significant opportunities:
Software development
Software development engineers are experiencing dramatic transformation. With over 283,000 current entry-level job postings, and a 28% growth rate over the past year, June 2024-June 2025, it is one of our most in-demand entry-level positions.
Where junior developers once spent hours on manual coding and debugging, they now leverage AI-assisted development tools to contribute to complex projects from day one. The role has evolved to focus more on innovation and problem-solving rather than routine coding tasks.
Data analysis
Data analyst roles represent another high-growth opportunity, with nearly 125,000 current job postings and 16% growth in the past year. Today’s junior analysts use AI to automate data cleaning and preparation, allowing them to focus on what matters most: generating meaningful business insights. Rather than spending weeks on manual data processing, they can deliver strategic analysis within days.
Cloud engineering
Cloud engineers are increasingly critical as organisations accelerate their digital transformation. With almost 45,000 current job postings and 9.5% year-over-year growth, this role offers early-career professionals the chance to architect and manage the infrastructure powering our digital world.
What is remarkable is that 90% of these entry-level workloads are now cloud-enabled, meaning they are designed to run on cloud computing platforms rather than traditional on-premises systems, creating a natural entry point for those with the right skills.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity engineering roles, particularly in the financial services sector, represent an emerging opportunity with 62.5% growth in job postings over the past year. As AI automates threat detection and response, entry-level professionals can focus on more sophisticated security challenges, making this historically experience-heavy field more accessible to newcomers.
Data engineering
Data engineers round out the top five, with over 103,000 current job postings and nearly 12% growth since June 2024. As organisations increasingly rely on AI and machine learning, junior data engineers play a crucial role in building the data foundations that power these technologies. The automation of routine data pipeline creation and management means early-career professionals can contribute to more strategic data architecture decisions.
What is particularly encouraging about these evolving roles is that they are not just technical positions; they are becoming strategic business enablers. AI may replace some traditional entry-level tasks, but it is also creating new opportunities and elevating the work of many early-career professionals.
With nearly 90% of early-career workloads now cloud-enabled, AWS is seeing an unprecedented opportunity for the next generation of technology professionals. I call these emerging talents AI-native professionals—individuals who enter the workforce ready to collaborate with AI tools to drive innovation and solve complex problems from day one.
The transformation we are witnessing in early-career technology roles is just the beginning. The research has illuminated how AI is democratising access to technical roles, accelerating skill development, and creating new pathways to success.
