Career security has fundamentally shifted from employer loyalty to self-investment, particularly in high-demand areas like artificial intelligence, according to career experts interviewed by Business Insider. Keith Spencer, a career expert at Resume Now, emphasizes that “job security is no longer a thing, but career security absolutely is,” urging workers to proactively build skills, experience, and professional networks rather than relying on traditional employment stability.
The rise of AI has dramatically changed employer expectations, especially for early-career professionals. Spencer notes that employers now expect workers to “intrinsically know how to use AI to make your role more productive and more efficient”—often without providing adequate training or support. This expectation represents a significant shift in the employment landscape, where companies demand employees arrive more polished, productive, and tech-savvy than ever before, particularly regarding AI capabilities.
The competitive landscape has intensified considerably. LinkedIn data reveals that applicants per role have more than doubled since spring 2022, while hiring in late 2025 remained 23% below pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, US workers’ average tenure with employers dropped to just 3.9 years by early 2024—the lowest since 2002, according to Labor Department statistics. This volatility has contributed to significant workplace stress, with just over half of respondents in a 2025 American Psychological Association survey reporting that job security concerns had a “significant impact” on their stress levels.
The entrepreneurial response has been notable: LinkedIn reported a 69% surge in users adding “founder” to their profiles within a single year. However, Catherine Fisher, a LinkedIn career expert, cautions that titles alone won’t impress recruiters—they want to see tangible impact, skills, and results.
Career experts recommend focusing on controllable factors: acquiring in-demand skills like AI proficiency, building robust professional networks, and demonstrating measurable impact. Workers in healthcare and AI-related fields may enjoy greater security, but many desk workers face an increasingly challenging job market that demands continuous skill development and strategic career management.
Key Quotes
Job security is no longer a thing, but career security absolutely is.
Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now, captures the fundamental shift in employment dynamics, emphasizing that workers can no longer rely on employer loyalty but must instead invest in their own skills and networks to maintain career stability.
Companies are expecting people to have more skills, wear more hats, do more with less.
Spencer describes the rising bar for new hires, particularly regarding AI proficiency, highlighting how employers increasingly demand workers arrive fully equipped with technical skills without providing adequate training or support.
They’re going to want to see, ‘What impact did you have?’
Catherine Fisher, LinkedIn career expert, explains that while entrepreneurial titles like ‘founder’ may proliferate on profiles, recruiters focus on tangible results and demonstrated skills rather than impressive-sounding job titles.
Focus on what you can control, rather than fixating on what’s out of your hands.
Spencer offers practical advice for workers navigating the competitive landscape, framing the need for continuous skill development and networking as an empowering call to action rather than a discouraging burden.
Our Take
This article reveals how AI is fundamentally restructuring the implicit contract between employers and workers. The expectation that employees self-educate on AI tools represents a troubling trend where companies externalize training costs while reaping productivity benefits. This creates a regressive dynamic that advantages workers with resources, time, and access to quality AI education while disadvantaging those without.
The 69% surge in “founder” titles on LinkedIn suggests desperation as much as entrepreneurship—workers hedging against instability by creating optionality. The broader implications are concerning: if career security requires constant upskilling in rapidly evolving technologies like AI, we’re creating a treadmill economy where workers must run faster just to stay in place. Organizations that fail to invest in AI training for their workforce may find themselves with inconsistent, inefficient AI adoption despite having technically “AI-capable” employees. The real question is whether this DIY career security model is sustainable or whether it will ultimately lead to burnout, inequality, and organizational dysfunction.
Why This Matters
This story highlights a fundamental transformation in the employment contract driven largely by AI’s rapid integration into the workplace. The expectation that workers arrive with AI skills—without employer-provided training—represents a significant shift in responsibility from organizations to individuals. This trend has profound implications for workforce development, education systems, and economic inequality, as those without access to AI training resources may find themselves increasingly disadvantaged.
The AI skills gap is creating a two-tier job market: workers in AI and other high-demand technical fields enjoy relative security, while traditional desk workers face unprecedented competition and rising qualification requirements. This divergence could accelerate income inequality and reshape career trajectories across industries. For businesses, the expectation that employees self-train on AI tools may yield short-term cost savings but could result in inconsistent AI adoption and missed productivity opportunities. The data on declining job tenure and rising stress levels suggests this DIY approach to career security is creating workforce instability that may ultimately harm both workers and employers.
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- The Dangers of AI Labor Displacement
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/build-skills-credentials-network-to-add-career-security-2026-1