Are young workers paying the price for corporate panic? Staffing expert breaks down the 'AI hype' in candid post

Time of India

10-07-2025

In a rare blend of clarity and calm,
Andrew Hilger
— former president of the $15 billion staffing powerhouse
Allegis Group
— has offered a grounded perspective on the current wave of
AI obsession
that has taken over boardrooms, job markets, and social media feeds. In a recent post on LinkedIn, Hilger urged businesses and professionals alike to breathe through the chaos, calling the frenzy 'Phase One' of any macro change, and reminding everyone: 'This too shall pass.'
Hilger's commentary arrives at a time when fears of job loss, automation, and the death of entry-level employment are dominating headlines and hallway conversations. Drawing from decades of experience across continents and industries, the staffing expert unpacked why he believes AI isn't the villain—it's the fear of being left behind that's distorting how companies are behaving.
The Real Problem Isn't AI, It's the Panic
According to Hilger, the surge in AI investments and the freeze in early-career hiring aren't necessarily rooted in technological readiness. 'Companies have real problems to solve,' he wrote, 'but they're also being sold solutions looking for problems.' The result, he notes, is a Red Queen effect—everyone sprinting just to stay in place. In the race to appear ahead of the curve, many companies are showcasing unproven demos and buzzword-heavy case studies, while quietly grappling with the daunting task of real change management.
The labor market, particularly for fresh graduates, is feeling the brunt of this cautious overreach. A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found the unemployment rate among new grads rose to 5.8% in March, up from 4.6% a year earlier. While many are quick to link this shift to automation, Hilger suggests it's not that simple: 'We see a spike in the unemployment rate… and race to assign causation. What if it's more about the hype?'
Netizens Join the Chorus: 'A Weird Time to Be Alive'
Hilger's post struck a nerve with thousands online. One commenter reflected on how AI is quickly mastering the dullest tasks humans avoid—making it both useful and threatening. 'One way to allow for a smooth transition is to instate a basic income… Not a small one either,' they wrote. Another echoed the surreal nature of the moment, comparing it to Y2K: 'Maybe it will be just like the year 2000. It hits and nothing changes. I tell myself a few times a day, 'I don't really know what's going on right now.''
The shared sense of disorientation, coupled with the pressure to 'keep up,' is driving not only businesses but also workers into reactive loops. Hilger highlights this as the core issue: 'We're not shaping the future as much as reacting to the fear of being left behind.'
Entry-Level Workers, Not Replaced—Just in a Holding Pattern
Despite the anxiety, Hilger holds space for hope. He predicts that today's struggling entry-level workers may soon become tomorrow's disruptors—especially those fluent in emerging tech. 'A possible Phase Two,' he says, 'will see them displace anyone resistant to change.' The implication is clear: this is not a dead end, but a reset. One where readiness to learn, adapt, and rethink outdated structures will matter more than alarmist headlines.