The Spring Large-Scale Recruitment Fair for the Class of 2026 graduates in Sichuan Province will be held on March 20. This year, AI-related positions continue to dominate hiring among internet companies. Additionally, many enterprises that appear to have little direct connection with artificial intelligence are actively joining the competition for AI talent. From the perspective of employment market trends, the integration of artificial intelligence is once again intensifying. Nationally, the number of college graduates is expected to reach 12.7 million this year, setting another record high. For relevant functional departments and job seekers, the accelerating displacement caused by AI demands heightened attention.

The outline for the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes comprehensively addressing the impact of external environmental changes and the development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence on employment. It is widely recognized that the emergence of new technologies inevitably alters traditional labor patterns. The World Economic Forum predicts that while 92 million jobs globally may be displaced by 2030, 170 million new roles will be created, resulting in a net increase of 78 million jobs. Although new positions will arise alongside technological advancement, this forecast is not entirely optimistic. Cai Fang, a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has indicated that job creation may lag behind job destruction for an extended period. Achieving high-quality and full employment amidst the triple pressures of a deepening aging population, prominent structural employment contradictions, and shortcomings in labor protection rights represents a significant challenge of our era.

Regarding short-term employment stabilization, the state has introduced a series of policies. For instance, Chen Changsheng, Deputy Director of the State Council Research Office, mentioned that in response to the "slow employment" phenomenon among some young people, transitional positions such as research assistants and teaching assistants will be developed. Furthermore, enhanced support for entrepreneurship will be provided this year. Concurrently, the development of AI is lowering barriers to entrepreneurship, increasing the feasibility of "one-person businesses" and "micro-entrepreneurship."

While short-term policies address symptoms, long-term development planning tackles root causes. To achieve high-quality full employment, it is essential to resolve structural employment mismatches—the imbalance between labor supply and demand. This brings the focus back to the fundamental mission of education. Experts suggest that in the AI era, education should prioritize cultivating abilities difficult for machines to replicate, namely creativity, communication skills, and complex problem-solving capabilities. Against the trend of a declining birth rate, freed-up educational resources can be utilized during this period of AI transformation. Research also indicates that the demand for composite talents with "higher-order cognitive skills, interpersonal interaction capabilities, and digital literacy" will become more urgent in the AI age.

Currently, many domestic universities have begun adjusting their academic programs and updating curricula. For example, adjustments to majors like translation and photography at the Communication University of China represent a proactive response to the development of artificial intelligence, aligning with the Ministry of Education's emphasis on the "dynamic adjustment of disciplines and majors." Numerous universities have established AI-related programs, and some have removed restrictions on students changing their majors. These are measures taken at the higher education level to adapt to changes in the employment environment.

It is not only current students but also employed individuals who should actively monitor shifts in the job market. Presently, when facing labor shortages, companies are increasingly likely to invest in technology rather than raise salaries to fill gaps as they might have in the past. If individuals do not update their skills promptly, they risk devaluation of their capabilities. Therefore, in the face of industrial restructuring and evolving social paradigms, employees must remain vigilant and proactively build their own professional "moats."

Stabilizing employment is an immediate priority, while achieving high-quality full employment is the ultimate goal. Only by deeply integrating the development of artificial intelligence with employment promotion can society ensure it is neither rendered obsolete nor left behind in the wave of technological transformation.