U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledges the tough job market for young graduates and white-collar professionals due to AI disruption. With a net worth over $500 million, Bessent advises becoming an “AI native” to navigate the changing landscape. AI-related job cuts hit nearly 55,000 in 2025, signaling a growing trend.

Recent college graduates face a 6% unemployment rate due to AI disruption, with warnings of it potentially hitting 25% in the next five years. Experts predict half of entry-level white-collar workers could become obsolete within five years because of AI. Up to 14% of global jobs could be disrupted by AI, affecting 1 in 7 workers.

Acquiring AI skills is essential as the technology becomes a general-purpose tool like electricity. Young and entry-level workers are at the forefront of AI disruption, but older workers are also at risk. Only 19% of U.S. adults interact with AI daily, highlighting the need to adapt to stay relevant in the job market.

Mastering AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, CoPilot, and Gemini can give you a competitive edge in the job market. Specialized online courses from Google and Microsoft can help you sharpen your skills. The divide in the workforce will be between AI-native workers and those who ignore the importance of AI skills.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Scott Bessent delivers stark message amid massive economic shift, says workers need this skill in 2026 (and beyond)