Archive · 18 Aug 2026
BOK report: Youth employment drops sharply in AI-exposed sectors
The Bank of Korea is a bank that helps run the country of South Korea.
It wrote a report about jobs and computers.
A few years ago, a smart computer program called ChatGPT was launched.
Since then, fewer young people have been getting jobs in fields where computers can do the work.
Between June 2022 and June 2026, about 285,000 jobs held by people aged 15 to 29 disappeared.
Most of those jobs were in areas like computer programming, publishing, and IT services.
At the same time, more people in their 50s found jobs.
The bank says fewer babies being born also played a part.
A researcher said AI can make young people more productive, but it can also replace them.
The report shows that AI is making it harder for young people to climb the career ladder.
A Bank of Korea report found youth employment (ages 15-29) fell by 285,000 jobs from June 2022 to June 2026.
94% of the decline (268,000 jobs) occurred in AI-exposed sectors such as IT services, publishing, computer programming, and professional services.
Employment for people in their 50s rose by 230,000 over the same period, with 173,000 of those gains in AI-exposed sectors.
Youth employment fell 31.4% in IT services and 27.4% in publishing since ChatGPT's launch in late 2022.
The BOK said population decline may have contributed, while AI may be accelerating the trend of a diminishing career ladder for young people.
- Who
- Bank of Korea (BOK); young people aged 15-29; Oh Sam-il, BOK researcher
- What
- A BOK report found youth employment fell by 285,000 jobs, mostly in AI-exposed sectors, since generative AI chatbots emerged
- When
- June 2022 to June 2026; report published on Tuesday
- Where
- South Korea (Seoul)
- Why
- AI technology may be replacing young workers and accelerating the employment decline, though population decline also contributed
- Report publisher
- Bank of Korea (BOK)
- Study period
- June 2022 – June 2026
- Youth jobs lost (ages 15-29)
- 285,000
- Jobs lost in AI-exposed sectors
- 268,000 (94%)
- Jobs gained by people in their 50s
- 230,000
- Youth employment decline in IT services
- 31.4%
- Youth employment decline in publishing
- 27.4%
- AI-exposed sectors
- IT services, publishing, computer programming, professional services