AI is killing the graduate job — now what?

Video Description

AI is reshaping work faster than universities, employers, or governments can adapt. In this intergenerational conversation, I talk with my son Tom about how artificial intelligence has destroyed the old promise: work hard, get good grades, and you’ll get a good job. From “ghost jobs” to algorithmic hiring and a two-tier workforce, this video explores what happens when AI changes everything — and how young people can still shape their future. 00:00 Introduction and why this episode is different 00:38 The AI hype cycle and corporate FOMO 02:05 How AI is reshaping early-career prospects 04:18 Applicant tracking systems and AI-driven hiring hurdles 06:22 Testing fatigue and the dehumanised recruitment funnel 08:03 Employers say they can’t hire—but won’t hire graduates 10:02 Accounting and finance: 18-year-olds vs graduates 12:06 Case study: 600+ applications and 18 months to a role 13:44 The numbers: too few grad jobs, too many applicants 15:26 Are universities overselling degree-to-job pathways? 17:05 Ghost jobs: why so many postings lead nowhere 19:06 The AI skills gap: prompting, not Googling 21:10 Using long prompts to turn outlines into usable scripts 23:02 Job killer or job creator? Mixed impacts of AI 25:05 When marketing becomes tech: prompts replace junior roles 27:06 A two-tier workforce and the missing talent pipeline 29:02 Mindset for students: keep learning, stay adaptable 31:00 How to self-train: courses, mentors, and practice 33:02 Practical advice for graduates and employers 35:22 Closing reflections and thanks https://www.hult.edu/blog/wi_skills_survey/ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/06/22/city-giants-replace-graduate-jobs-with-ai/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clygj739dmvo https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/bad-times-for-college-graduates?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2 TRANSCRIPT A transcript for this video is available at: https://www.taxresearch.org.uk IF YOU WANT TO WRITE TO YOUR MP ABOUT ISSUES IN THIS VIDEO If you want to write a letter to your MP on the issues raised in this blog post, there is a ChatGPT prompt to assist you in doing so, with full instructions, here. https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/06/20/chatgpt-prompt-for-a-letter-to-your-mp/ HOW TO SUPPORT US Please consider donating: https://ko-fi.com/taxresearch ABOUT RICHARD MURPHY Richard Murphy is Emeritus Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School. He is director of Tax Research LLP and the author of the Funding the Future blog. His best-known book is ‘The Joy of Tax’. This video was edited by Thomas Murphy. RICHARD MURPHY ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/richardjmurphy.bsky.social OR ON MY BLOG: http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/ HIT SUBSCRIBE & GET NOTIFICATIONS Subscribe and get notified of new videos released. INTRODUCTION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdHsRPy3060 PLAYLISTS: The Wealth Series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobQLeyZYAagFDMjEFTKbhRD Ecenomics https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob54Gs-fOL-8OAQ-IpduwB4 Britain https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobwTT4ATvJjsf8OO6S7wD10 Tax https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoaMni_12J6ULp3yUJisUZoY MMT https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoZ6jvRGSW5YXu8qogE6aClX Money https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYnLk1c7syTvoIo8bKYUs5m Climate Change https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob4_wsYaVivWd2WumpPLYwJ USA https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYYd3dSyU2Oyl3x7bWJOP7H Labour https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoa-KhzG-fnjDSg1WROL1zMw The Trump Administration https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobz41-GLimTho27A3flVWQx #AIJobs #GraduateJobs #YouthEmployment #UKJobs #Hiring #ATS #GhostJobs #Automation #SkillsGap #PromptEngineering #University #Careers #BigFour #WorkforceFuture #JobSearch #Internships #ContinuousLearning #AIEthics #RichardMurphy #TomMurphy #AIJobs #GraduateCrisis #RichardMurphy #Automation #FutureOfWork