AI is making entry-level jobs out of date, leaving many contemporary grads caught and jobless. In keeping with The Straits Instances, solely half of Singapore’s contemporary graduates managed to land jobs. These aren’t encouraging numbers.
For anybody who has exhausted months on and a whole lot of resumes later, and nonetheless hasn’t had any luck in getting employed, then it is likely to be time to start out interested by creating your personal job.
The AI Takeover Has Begun – and entry-level jobs are its first casualties
For contemporary school grads as we speak, even first-class honours and a LinkedIn profile stuffed with internships not assure employment. You’re up in opposition to a whole lot of candidates, all combating for fewer roles… as a result of entry-level duties that was once dealt with by junior employees —like information entry, copywriting, even customer support —are actually being accomplished by machines.
The end result? Fewer openings for junior roles, fiercer competitors, and extra grads feeling like they’re “not adequate” when the actual challenge is a structural change within the financial system.
Job postings have declined yr over yr and up to date school grads are discovering it tougher to seek out an entry-level place with the rise of synthetic intelligence. Solely 30% of those that graduated in 2025 and 41% of 2024 graduates have discovered entry-level jobs of their subject, based on the Cengage Group 2025 Graduate Employability Report. One other Stanford report means that the AI revolution is starting to have a big and disproportionate influence on entry-level staff within the American labor market.
So for those who’re questioning why you’re caught in utility limbo regardless of doing every thing “proper”…the issue isn’t you. The job market has modified.
Ought to You Begin a Enterprise As a substitute of Making use of for a Job?
Right here’s a radical concept. For those who can’t discover a job, perhaps it’s time to cease making use of altogether.
Give it some thought: as a substitute of ready for somebody to rent you, why not rent your self?
I do know, this isn’t for everybody. Maybe you’ve not considered being your personal boss earlier than. However for these of you who’ve the chance urge for food, resilience and a option to elevate capital (be it out of your dad and mom or your friends), then beginning a enterprise may very well be your quickest path out of job limbo.
This 27-year-old selected to develop into a enterprise proprietor as a substitute of trying to find somebody to make use of her. As a substitute of constructing her personal model from scratch, Cheryl Quak began her personal enterprise as a 7-Eleven franchisee, paying $80,000 in franchise charges for two shops in Tanjong Pagar. The profit? Her younger age and lack of expertise didn't matter to clients since she was working a widely known model, and she or he didn't must supply for her personal location or arrange a brand new retailer from scratch (since franchisees get to decide on and take over a retailer that has been corporate-run for at the very least a yr).
While you begin your personal enterprise, you’re the boss. No extra ready for another person to “offer you an opportunity”. You determine the product, the service, the model, the technique. It will probably appear terrifying, but it surely’s additionally extremely liberating. What’s extra, beginning a enterprise forces you to study gross sales, advertising and marketing, customer support, financials, operations—abruptly. Even for those who shut it down finally and determine to return into employment later, you’ll be miles forward of your friends when it comes to abilities and expertise.
And mockingly, the identical AI that’s making it onerous so that you can land an entry-level position within the workforce can now develop into an ally. You should use it to assist run your small business extra effectively— automating duties, managing buyer chats, creating content material, and extra.
Dangers of beginning a enterprise
In fact, beginning a enterprise isn’t for everybody…and it isn’t with out its dangers.
As an worker, you’ll seldom bear the complete brunt (or prices) of your errors. As a substitute, you solely must do your job and wait to your month-end paycheck to be handed to you.
However as a founder or a enterprise proprietor, there’s no such factor. You’ll be working across the clock (particularly to start with) and there isn’t anybody else to ensure you a paycheck. You’ll must work for it, and if there are issues, you must resolve them. If the enterprise fails, nobody goes to present you your a reimbursement.
However apparently, there is usually a shortcut.
As I not too long ago learnt, beginning your small business through a franchise may be a better option to overcome the widespread obstacles that new enterprise homeowners sometimes run into. Whereas on podcast duties on the Franchising & Licensing Asia Expo final weekend, I bought to study from varied enterprise homeowners and grasp franchisees in regards to the variations between constructing your personal enterprise vs. working a franchise.
P.S. No, that is NOT a sponsored put up. I merely discovered my expertise so insightful that I made a decision to doc my takeaways on this weblog.
As a brand new enterprise proprietor, beginning your personal model means it’s worthwhile to check every thing —product-market match, R&D, security assessments or certifications, branding, gross sales and advertising and marketing channels, and so on. That takes up time, cash, and loads of trial-and-error. Get it proper straightaway and you might be wealthy. Get it unsuitable, and the prices are on you.
In distinction, if you begin a enterprise by going with a franchise, you’re handed a playbook and a model that clients already belief. Your age or (lack of) expertise doesn’t matter. Take into consideration the franchises Anytime Health or Shilin Taiwan Road Snacks – their clients patronise them for the model and may barely the distinction between which shops are HQ-owned vs. run by franchisees.
Other than model recognition and belief, most franchises present operational steering and manuals, employees coaching, advertising and marketing templates, provider connections and reductions, in addition to enterprise teaching and extra. That is gold, particularly for those who’ve by no means run a enterprise earlier than! In contrast to being a solo founder, you get to be a part of a wider community of franchisees. It’s like becoming a member of a college alumni group, besides everybody’s constructing the identical enterprise as you and sharing what works. You don’t need to construct up your personal model and visibility as a result of so many extra individuals like you’re on the identical journey and constructing it collectively.
So if the concept of beginning your personal enterprise (and model) from scratch feels overwhelming, franchising is likely to be price interested by.
However…are franchising charges price it?
There are all the time trade-offs if you run a enterprise. Constructing your personal doesn’t contain having to pay for any franchising charges, however you must do loads of issues from scratch and also you most likely received’t be capable to profit from economies of scale. For example, you’ll have to determine your personal provider networks (and negotiate with them, with much less bargaining energy too because you’ll have smaller quantity).
In distinction, if you franchise a recognized model, you’re shopping for right into a recognised model and a confirmed enterprise mannequin, along with securing enterprise consultants for your self who’re there to information and make sure you succeed. In spite of everything, their model and popularity can also be at stake. What’s extra, they’ve better bargaining energy with suppliers given their scale and mixed quantity, so that you get to learn from decrease costs and better high quality somewhat than for those who tried to drag it off by your personal.
How a lot would all of this value? Relying on the model and trade, franchise charges range extensively . Right here’s a couple of examples:
If we take a look at the value tag alone, a college diploma from NUS or NTU already units one again by the identical prices of at the very least $30,000 – $50,000. That appeared like a worthy funding up to now when paper {qualifications} nearly assured college students a job upon commencement. However in as we speak’s job market, that’s shortly disappearing…to the purpose the place a rising variety of Singapore’s contemporary graduates have determined to spend much more cash to get certified to develop into a plumber.
Nobody is aware of what the state of graduate employment will likely be like within the subsequent few years. However within the meantime, individuals nonetheless must discover a option to work and earn cash.
To place this into context, franchise charges could seem costly, however they usually include real-world enterprise mentorship, direct earnings potential, steering from others (or a group) who has already succeeded, in addition to a recognised model which clients already belief.
Will we see extra individuals select to spend money on beginning a franchise and forgo a level within the close to future? Solely time will inform.
Do you have to arrange your personal enterprise or function a franchise?
| Facet | Franchise Enterprise | Personal Enterprise (From Scratch) |
|---|---|---|
| Startup Price | 💸 Increased upfront value (franchise price + setup prices) | 💡 Can begin small with decrease preliminary capital |
| Model Recognition | ✅ Instantaneous model credibility and buyer belief | ❌ Must construct popularity and consciousness from scratch |
| Enterprise Mannequin | 📘 Confirmed methods, SOPs, and playbooks supplied | 🧪 You have to check and refine your personal methods and mannequin |
| Artistic Freedom | ❌ Restricted – should observe model pointers | ✅ Full freedom to innovate and pivot |
| Advertising Help | 📣 Typically supplied by franchisor (nationwide campaigns, supplies) | 📱 You deal with all advertising and marketing, branding, and technique |
| Product/Service Management | ❌ Mounted product/service choices | ✅ You determine what to promote, change, or introduce |
| Coaching & Mentorship | 🎓 Supplied by franchisor, particularly at the beginning | 🧭 No formal steering – you’ll have to seek out mentors or study as you go |
| Operational Help | 🛠️ Assist with provider contacts, tech methods, retailer design, and so on. | 👷 You construct all processes and provide chains your self |
| Time to Profitability | ⏳ Often sooner on account of confirmed mannequin | 🐢 Could take longer on account of experimentation and advertising and marketing ramp-up |
| Threat of Failure | ⚠️ Decrease – success charges are usually larger for franchises | 🚨 Increased – most startups fail inside first 2–3 years |
| Exit Technique | 🔄 Can promote or switch franchise (topic to franchisor’s approval) | 💼 Extra flexibility in promoting or scaling, however is determined by model fairness |
| Ongoing Charges | 💰 Royalty or administration charges (e.g. 5–10% of income) | ❌ No royalty charges, however you bear all ongoing enterprise prices |
| Possession Feeling | 🤝 Shared model possession (you’re a licensee) | 🏆 Full possession and pleasure of constructing one thing from the bottom up |
For anybody eager to go down the franchising route, a method to consider it could be whether or not you’re keen to purchase a shortcut…or pay to your personal real-world “tuition charges” over the subsequent few years of your small business.
How a lot would you peg that worth at?
Conclusion
Now, this text is to not say that getting a level is not necessary. I’m a degree-holder myself, and I’ve picked up abilities in college which have helped me land my first job and run this weblog for the final 11 years. There’s no denying that my qualification opened up doorways which may have remained closed to me in any other case – my first employer most likely wouldn’t have employed me if I didn’t have my diploma.
However for anybody who’s nonetheless anticipating their school diploma to ensure them a job, it is likely to be time to rethink your expectations. Whereas we’re nonetheless within the early days of AI so its full influence on entry-level jobs isn’t as clear but, there’s no denying that this technology of recent staff have been the one to pay the value.
So for those who’re a contemporary grad feeling misplaced on this AI-powered job market, know that you simply’re not alone—and it’s not your fault.
You’ll be able to both proceed to carry out for an employer to rent you, or take into consideration whether or not creating your personal work could be a greater possibility at this level. Plus, you probably have the capital means for it, then beginning a enterprise — be it your personal or through a franchise — is likely to be a greater wager than sending out yet one more job utility that will get ignored.
You’ll be able to construct. You’ll be able to create. You’ll be able to franchise.
You’ll be able to take cost of your profession in methods our technology by no means might.
In fact, take notice that beginning any enterprise – franchise or new – comes with dangers. You’ll want upfront capital (some franchises require six figures), handle individuals (hiring and staffing points) and also you’ll finally be accountable for operations, advertising and marketing and buyer expertise. Whether or not you determine to start out your personal enterprise or franchise a recognized model, simply know this: your path doesn’t need to seem like everybody else’s.
In as we speak’s shopper financial system, that is likely to be an alternate path out than to simply wait round to get employed by another person.
The financial system is altering. Perhaps it’s time we modified the best way we strategy careers too.
With love,
Finances Babe
