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The traditional career path of decades-long employment with a single company is rapidly becoming a relic of the past, according to experts, as artificial intelligence reshapes the job market and pushes companies toward skills-based hiring practices. Although widespread job losses due to AI – the so-called “jobpocalypse” – may be overstated, the fundamental redesign of operate is not, researchers say.
Dr. Brian Harney and Prof. Claire Gubbin of Dublin City University (DCU) Business School, writing in the journal Advances in Developing Human Resources, observe a shift from fixed, long-term jobs to more modular work arrangements. “Corporate practices such as renting talent, just-in-time staffing and the liquid workforce depict more modular work arrangements beyond employment as traditionally understood,” they state. This trend suggests that the expectation of secure, full-time employment for 30 or 40 years may be unrealistic for future generations.
The implications of this shift are significant, particularly as financial instruments like mortgages, pensions, and life insurance are predicated on long-term job security. The researchers note a growing debate over the consequences, with optimists highlighting potential benefits like greater autonomy and meaningful work, while others caution about the increased risk and responsibility placed on individuals to continually upskill and manage their own career development.
The availability of white-collar jobs is shrinking at both ends of the career spectrum. AI’s introduction has potentially reduced entry-level opportunities, and even experienced professionals are facing unexpected unemployment. The Irish Times reported in February 2026 that thousands of senior-level tech workers, both in Ireland and globally, have found themselves unemployed in their 30s and 40s. This trend extends beyond the tech sector, with older workers facing increasing difficulty re-entering the workforce. A 2023 study by the Schwartz Center for Economic Analysis found that almost a quarter of those over the age of 50 who are laid off in the US never find another job – a reversal of past recessionary patterns.
European employment rates also demonstrate a decline starting around age 50, with a sharp drop after 60, according to the OECD Employment Outlook 2025. This underscores the urgent need to foster continuous learning and adapt to a career model centered around lifelong skill development. While the European Union currently exhibits a longer expected working life – estimated at 37.2 years in 2024, with countries like the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, and Ireland exceeding 40 years – the potential for disruption remains.
Despite these global trends, Ireland’s employment and economic indicators remain positive. Enterprise Ireland data shows that both foreign-owned and Irish-owned companies expanded their workforces in 2025, with foreign companies adding over 4,500 jobs and Irish businesses creating more than 3,000. Regional employment growth has also been consistent over the past decade. However, experts caution that Ireland is not immune to economic shifts originating elsewhere, particularly in the United States.
Innovator and educator Conor Lynch advocates for a shift in mindset, urging individuals to focus on building “career assets” – brand, skills, relationships, networks, and intellectual property – rather than solely pursuing job roles. His book, Learn Earn Own, proposes a portfolio-based career model where individuals diversify their skills and income streams, creating a career that “compounds rather than dies out.” Lynch suggests leveraging AI as a career coach to identify potential opportunities and navigate the changing landscape.
Harney emphasizes that this new corporate focus is transferring the responsibility for security and skills development to the individual. He describes a fragmented workplace where talent is “accessed” on a short-term basis, based on specific skills and needs, rather than “acquired” through traditional recruitment and long-term contracts. The question remains whether existing employment laws and trade unions are equipped to ensure that work remains meaningful and secure in this evolving environment.
