AI May Steal 20 Percent of Gen Z's Jobs, but Believe They Can Adapt
Half of Gen Z interns are anticipating that 20 percent of their jobs will be automated by AI when they start full-time roles, but 92 percent are confident in their ability to adapt to AI advancements in their fields, based on a new survey from KPMG.
“While headlines focus on fears of workers being replaced by AI, Gen Z talent joining the workforce in the coming years is challenging a deeper assumption that employers can deprioritize workforce well-being and long-term growth in their rush to maximize new technology benefits without facing consequences,” said Derek Thomas, national partner-in-charge in university talent acquisition at KPMG US.
Thomas added that “instead, this talent is embracing AI as a tool and seeking stability, meaningful relationships and sustained career development from their employers. Organizations that recognize and support these values will be best positioned to attract and retain top talent from this next generation.”
In July 2025, KPMG surveyed 1,117 of its US interns throughout the firm's Tax, Audit, Advisory and Business Process Group. The survey was conducted to better comprehend their perspectives on career development, AI adoption, workplace culture, learning preferences, and long-term career goals.
The survey also found that Gen Z are more experimental with AI compared older generations and a lot of them utilize generative AI frequently in their day-to-day.
Gen Z wants to eliminate traditional 9-5 work schedules and work-life balance tops salary concerns when it comes to considering a full-time job opportunity. In spite of being digital natives, Gen Z would rather have face-to-face mentoring and hands-on learning over AI-powered training methods. Gen Z wants long-term job stability amidst job market uncertainty.