Jobs for young people through artificial intelligence
Youth unemployment is a serious societal problem, and many fear that artificial intelligence will make it even worse. Could the answer instead be to put the keys in the hands of young people themselves, asks Lassi Kurkijärvi of Sofigate. With Kurkijärvi’s support, a group of young people set out to explore whether artificial intelligence could enable employment rather than stand in its way. Is this possible?
In recent years, the threshold for securing a first job has risen so high that many young people feel employment is almost unattainable. In Finland, there are already nearly thirty thousand working-age young people who have never held a job.
The unfortunate reality is that in economically uncertain times, there are few jobs available. Self-employment as an entrepreneur is, of course, one option, but fierce competition makes this difficult too, and entrepreneurship does not suit everyone.
Getting a foot in the door at a young age
When I was 17, I had incredibly good luck. In the late 1990s, I came across an advertisement in which a large Finnish media company was looking for young people interested in digitalisation to envision and develop the web services of the future. I had already taught myself to code and built websites, so I decided to apply.
I was fortunate enough to get the job, and suddenly found myself with a front-row seat to the digital boom at the turn of the millennium. In just a couple of years, I learned an enormous amount about developing digital services, about business, and about the everyday realities of working life.
Only later did I fully realise how fortunate I had been to get my foot in the door of working life at such a young age. I learned the basics of having a job and found my own path, which at the time led me into media entrepreneurship. Above all, I have come to understand that similar opportunities are now few and far between.
It is also unfortunate that technological change is widely perceived as having turned against young people. While technological disruption helped me find my way into working life, artificial intelligence is now helping companies automate routine knowledge work, fuelling fears that entry-level jobs will become even scarcer. It is no wonder that many young people view AI with suspicion.
Not an obstacle, but an enabler?
Youth employment is a major societal issue closely linked to technology. At Sofigate, we do not want to be part of the problem, but part of the solution.
That is why we have set out to turn the prevailing assumption on its head. What if artificial intelligence were not an obstacle to young people’s employment, but an enabler?
We want to explore whether artificial intelligence could offer a solution to youth unemployment. The starting point is the individual situations of young jobseekers, while also taking employers’ needs into account. We approach youth employment as a holistic phenomenon. It is not only about education and writing job applications, but also about managing one’s life and finances, building networks, and developing everyday working life skills.
We will employ a group of young adults for six months to ideate, design and build AI agents that help and guide users in areas the young people themselves consider important. We expect these to relate to working life skills, life management and everyday routines, as well as practical support with job seeking and questions related to entrepreneurship.
Alongside this “AI factory”, the young participants will be supported by five young employees from Sofigate, who will guide them in the use of technology and share their own experiences. Our goal is for every participant to find their own path into employment, either by securing a job or by becoming an entrepreneur. At the same time, they will gain extensive experience of using artificial intelligence and other digital tools, as well as of real working life.
At least as importantly, after six months the young participants will have access to practical tools that help them find employment. One such tool could be a library of AI agents that can be opened for anyone to use, thereby helping as many young people as possible move into work.
Much remains open, and the final ways of working will take shape along the way. Young people themselves know best what they need most. What is certain is that we will share our learnings openly, including successes and challenges, both during and after the experiment.
Aiming for a societal shift in attitudes
Many young people already use artificial intelligence when applying for jobs, for example to create their CVs and applications with the help of AI tools. Unfortunately, this has led to employers having to wade through dozens or even hundreds of near-identical applications.
Our goal is not to make every young jobseeker the same. On the contrary, we want to find ways for each young person to use AI to build on their own individual strengths. At the same time, we want to work together with employers, educational institutions, interest groups and public authorities to ensure that the needs of employers and young jobseekers meet as effectively as possible.
Ultimately, this is not only about youth employment, but about a broader shift in societal attitudes. We want to help address a problem that is linked both to the difficult situation young people face and to the slow productivity growth of companies. Our wider vision is to help the Finnish economy harness artificial intelligence in ways that benefit everyone by increasing productivity, developing new ways of working, and drawing young people more actively into economic and societal participation.
Focusing on threats prevents us from seeing opportunities
The economy, working life and technology are now very different from when digitalisation helped me secure my first job. Even then, many young people felt uneasy about new technology, much in the same way that many now view artificial intelligence sceptically. Problems associated with social media are a clear reminder that technology can also bring unintended and undesirable effects.
I understand every young person who sees artificial intelligence as a threat. It is essential to recognise the risks associated with AI, but focusing solely on threat scenarios prevents us from seeing the opportunities new technology offers. I am convinced that by working together with open minds, we can find ways for artificial intelligence to help young people begin rewarding and meaningful careers.
Click to read more about how we will hire young people to build solutions for tackling unemployment issues with the help of AI .
About the author
Lassi Kurkijärvi has been building digital business for three decades. Today, he helps Nordic companies navigate digital transformation in his role as Executive CTO at Sofigate. His passion is humanity in all its forms: change is ignited or extinguished by whether people are inspired and engaged by it. Ultimately, everything new should serve a better and more sustainable life.
Want to learn more?
We’re glad to tell you how we can help your organisation grow and develop – feel free to contact us!
How AI agents strengthen SIAM in multivendor environments
The productivity leap in finance – are you ready to jump?
