WIN-NextGen™ Launches Podcast to Navigate the Future of Work

Features High School Researcher Karissa Tang on the Impact of AI on Teen Jobs

Feb. 27, 2026 at 6:48pm

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WIN-NextGen™, a workforce innovation network, has launched a new podcast series that aims to bridge the gap between today's youth and industry leaders. The inaugural episode features an interview with high school senior Karissa Tang, whose research predicts a 27% decline in teen jobs by 2030 due to the impact of artificial intelligence and automation.

Why it matters

The podcast series serves as an urgent call to action, highlighting the need to proactively develop skills and prepare the next generation for an AI-enabled workforce. The displacement of entry-level jobs traditionally held by teens could have significant implications for their financial independence, soft skill development, and overall readiness for the evolving world of work.

The details

In the interview, Karissa Tang discusses the findings of her research, which examined the top 10 most popular teenage jobs. Her analysis shows that AI could displace 770,000 jobs by 2030, a 27% decline from 2024 employment figures. The most vulnerable jobs include cashiers, facing a 54% decline, and fast food counter workers, facing a 37% decline. Tang highlights the importance of these entry-level jobs in providing teens with financial, life, and independence skills, and notes that the loss of these opportunities could create a gap in early development.

  • Karissa Tang's research predicts a 27% decline in teen jobs by 2030.

The players

WIN-NextGen™

A registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and workforce innovation network that leverages technology to cultivate NextGen talent (ages 13–24), inspire, and build capacity for interconnected pipelines across the 3S Workforce™ – STEM, Supply Chain, and Skilled Trades – in the AI era and beyond.

Karissa Tang

A high school senior and researcher whose work on AI's impact on teenage employment has recently been featured by CNN and NPR's The Indicator.

Elisa Basnight

The host and founder of the WIN-NextGen Podcast, and the founder of WIN-NextGen™.

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What they’re saying

“We believe the world really cannot afford to leave any segment of today's young people unprepared for what is coming next.”

— Elisa Basnight, Founder of WIN-NextGen™

“My analysis shows that AI could displace 770,000 jobs by 2030, and that's 27% decline from 2024 employment figures.”

— Karissa Tang, High school senior and researcher

“Character, tenacity, curiosity, and empathy, they're adaptable…focusing on these traits will get you ahead of the curve.”

— Karissa Tang, High school senior and researcher

“Technology really can automate tasks, but it cannot automate character. It really is a powerful reminder that it's what I call collaboration between human and machine.”

— Elisa Basnight, Founder of WIN-NextGen™

What’s next

WIN-NextGen™ is officially opening a Call for Speakers, seeking industry experts, educators, labor economists, and youth voices who are passionate about the 3S Workforce™ and the evolving world of work.

The takeaway

This podcast launch highlights the urgent need to prepare the next generation for an AI-enabled workforce, focusing on developing adaptable human traits and skills that complement technology. By bridging the gap between youth and industry leaders, WIN-NextGen™ aims to empower the 3S Workforce™ and ensure no one is left unprepared for the future of work.