Is Working from Home Destroying Young People's Careers?

A groundbreaking new study suggests that working from home (WFH) may be more detrimental to young people's career prospects than artificial intelligence. While AI often gets the blame for eliminating entry-level jobs, research from the London School of Economics and Warwick University indicates that remote work is the real culprit.

The Broken Ladder

The study, titled "The Broken Ladder: AI, Remote Work, and Early-Career Hiring," analyzed 243 million new hires and 407 million online job postings across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia from 2017 to 2025. The findings reveal a significant shift away from entry-level candidates, beginning in earnest towards the end of 2022—coinciding with both the launch of ChatGPT and the realization that WFH was here to stay.

Why WFH Hurts Young Workers

For older, established workers, remote work offers flexibility and productivity gains. But for entry-level employees, it's a disaster. Training costs rise, performance improves more slowly, and employers increasingly prefer to hire experienced staff rather than invest in newcomers. The jobs most exposed to AI automation are also those most amenable to remote work—like computer coding—creating a double whammy for young job seekers.

The Good News

Unlike AI, which is unstoppable, WFH practices can be adapted. Companies can redesign training programs to ensure junior staff interact with experienced colleagues. They can require more in-person presence, especially for early-career roles. As the researchers note, "If WFH is reducing the incentive to hire junior talent, then more micro-level adjustments may be required to help firms adapt their organisational practices."

A Call to Action

The ladder may be broken, but we know how to fix it. Employers must invest in mentoring and create opportunities for face-to-face collaboration. Older workers, who benefited from such support early in their careers, have a responsibility to give back. For young people, understanding the realities of the job market and developing human interaction skills are crucial.

Ultimately, this research offers a hopeful counter-narrative: the problem isn't an inevitable technological tide, but a manageable shift in work culture. With intentional changes, we can rebuild the career ladder for the next generation.