AI is making entry-level jobs out of date, leaving many contemporary grads caught and jobless. In line with The Straits Occasions, 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 bunch of resumes later, and nonetheless hasn’t had any luck in getting employed, then it is likely to be time to begin serious about creating your personal job.
The AI Takeover Has Begun – and entry-level jobs are its first casualties
For contemporary school grads in the present day, even first-class honours and a LinkedIn profile filled with internships not assure employment. You’re up in opposition to a whole bunch of candidates, all combating for fewer roles… as a result of entry-level duties that was dealt with by junior workers —like information entry, copywriting, even customer support —are actually being finished by machines.
The outcome? Fewer openings for junior roles, fiercer competitors, and extra grads feeling like they’re “not adequate” when the actual problem is a structural change within the economic system.
Job postings have declined 12 months over 12 months and up to date school grads are discovering it more durable to search 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, in line with the Cengage Group 2025 Graduate Employability Report. One other Stanford report means that the AI revolution is starting to have a big and disproportionate affect on entry-level employees within the American labor market.
So when you’re questioning why you’re caught in software limbo regardless of doing all the things “proper”…the issue isn’t you. The job market has modified.
Ought to You Begin a Enterprise As an alternative of Making use of for a Job?
Right here’s a radical thought. Should you can’t discover a job, possibly 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 strategy to elevate capital (be it out of your mother and father or your friends), then beginning a enterprise might be your quickest path out of job limbo.
This 27-year-old selected to turn into a enterprise proprietor as a substitute of trying to find somebody to make use of her. As an alternative 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 prospects since she was working a well known model, and he or she 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 no less than a 12 months).
Once you begin your personal enterprise, you’re the boss. No extra ready for another person to “offer you an opportunity”. You resolve the product, the service, the model, the technique. It could actually 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—all of sudden. Even when you shut it down ultimately and resolve to return into employment later, you’ll be miles forward of your friends by way of abilities and expertise.
And mockingly, the identical AI that’s making it arduous so that you can land an entry-level function within the workforce can now turn into an ally. You should use it to assist run what you are promoting 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 an alternative, 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 at first) and there isn’t anybody else to ensure you a paycheck. You’ll must work for it, and if there are issues, you need to resolve them. If the enterprise fails, nobody goes to present you your a reimbursement.
However apparently, there generally is a shortcut.
As I not too long ago learnt, beginning what you are promoting by way of a franchise will be a better strategy to overcome the frequent obstacles that new enterprise house owners usually run into. Whereas on podcast duties on the Franchising & Licensing Asia Expo final weekend, I obtained to study from numerous enterprise house owners and grasp franchisees concerning the variations between constructing your personal enterprise vs. working a franchise.
P.S. No, that is NOT a sponsored publish. 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 is advisable to check all the things —product-market match, R&D, security assessments or certifications, branding, gross sales and advertising and marketing channels, and so forth. That takes up time, cash, and loads of trial-and-error. Get it proper straightaway and you may be wealthy. Get it mistaken, and the prices are on you.
In distinction, once you begin a enterprise by going with a franchise, you’re handed a playbook and a model that prospects already belief. Your age or (lack of) expertise doesn’t matter. Take into consideration the franchises Anytime Health or Shilin Taiwan Road Snacks – their prospects patronise them for the model and might barely the distinction between which retailers are HQ-owned vs. run by franchisees.
Other than model recognition and belief, most franchises present operational steering and manuals, workers coaching, advertising and marketing templates, provider connections and reductions, in addition to enterprise teaching and extra. That is gold, particularly when you’ve by no means run a enterprise earlier than! Not like being a solo founder, you get to be a part of a wider community of franchisees. It’s like becoming a member of a faculty alumni group, besides everybody’s constructing the identical enterprise as you and sharing what works. You don’t must construct up your personal model and visibility as a result of so many extra folks like you might be on the identical journey and constructing it collectively.
So if the thought of beginning your personal enterprise (and model) from scratch feels overwhelming, franchising is likely to be price serious about.
However…are franchising charges price it?
There are all the time trade-offs once you run a enterprise. Constructing your personal doesn’t contain having to pay for any franchising charges, however you need to do plenty of issues from scratch and also you most likely gained’t have the ability to profit from economies of scale. As an illustration, 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, once you franchise a identified 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 any case, their model and fame can also be at stake. What’s extra, they’ve larger bargaining energy with suppliers given their scale and mixed quantity, so that you get to learn from decrease costs and better high quality quite than when you tried to tug it off by your personal.
How a lot would all of this value? Relying on the model and business, franchise charges differ extensively . Right here’s just a few 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 no less than $30,000 – $50,000. That appeared like a worthy funding prior to now when paper {qualifications} nearly assured college students a job upon commencement. However in in the present day’s job market, that’s rapidly 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 turn into a plumber.
Nobody is aware of what the state of graduate employment will probably be like within the subsequent few years. However within the meantime, folks nonetheless must discover a strategy to work and earn cash.
To place this into context, franchise charges could seem costly, however they typically include real-world enterprise mentorship, direct earnings potential, steering from others (or a crew) who has already succeeded, in addition to a recognised model which prospects already belief.
Will we see extra folks select to put money into 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 | ✅ Prompt model credibility and buyer belief | ❌ Have to construct fame and consciousness from scratch |
| Enterprise Mannequin | 📘 Confirmed methods, SOPs, and playbooks offered | 🧪 You have to check and refine your personal methods and mannequin |
| Inventive Freedom | ❌ Restricted – should comply with model tips | ✅ Full freedom to innovate and pivot |
| Advertising and marketing Assist | 📣 Usually offered by franchisor (nationwide campaigns, supplies) | 📱 You deal with all advertising and marketing, branding, and technique |
| Product/Service Management | ❌ Mounted product/service choices | ✅ You resolve what to promote, change, or introduce |
| Coaching & Mentorship | 🎓 Supplied by franchisor, particularly initially | 🧭 No formal steering – you’ll have to search out mentors or study as you go |
| Operational Assist | 🛠️ Assist with provider contacts, tech methods, retailer design, and so forth. | 👷 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 |
| Danger of Failure | ⚠️ Decrease – success charges are typically greater 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 delight of constructing one thing from the bottom up |
For anybody eager to go down the franchising route, a technique 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 what you are promoting.
How a lot would you peg that worth at?
Conclusion
Now, this text is to not say that getting a level is not vital. 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 affect on entry-level jobs isn’t as clear but, there’s no denying that this technology of recent employees have been the one to pay the value.
So when you’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 can be a greater possibility at this level. Plus, in case you have the capital means for it, then beginning a enterprise — be it your personal or by way of a franchise — is likely to be a greater guess than sending out one more job software 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 word that beginning any enterprise – franchise or new – comes with dangers. You’ll want upfront capital (some franchises require six figures), handle folks (hiring and staffing points) and also you’ll in the end be accountable for operations, advertising and marketing and buyer expertise. Whether or not you resolve to begin your personal enterprise or franchise a identified model, simply know this: your path doesn’t must appear to be everybody else’s.
In in the present day’s shopper economic system, that is likely to be an alternate path out than to simply wait round to get employed by another person.
The economic system is altering. Possibly it’s time we modified the best way we strategy careers too.
With love,
Price range Babe
