AI is making entry-level jobs out of date, leaving many contemporary grads caught and jobless. Based on 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 lots of of resumes later, and nonetheless hasn’t had any luck in getting employed, then it could 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 faculty grads at the moment, even first-class honours and a LinkedIn profile filled with internships now not assure employment. You’re up in opposition to lots of of candidates, all combating for fewer roles… as a result of entry-level duties that was dealt with by junior workers —like knowledge 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 ok” when the actual challenge is a structural change within the economic system.
Job postings have declined 12 months over 12 months and up to date faculty 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 area, in keeping with the Cengage Group 2025 Graduate Employability Report. One other Stanford report means that the AI revolution is starting to have a major and disproportionate affect on entry-level employees within the American labor market.
So when you’re questioning why you’re caught in utility 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 a substitute of Making use of for a Job?
Right here’s a radical concept. In case you can’t discover a job, possibly it’s time to cease making use of altogether.
Give it some thought: as an alternative 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 approach to increase capital (be it out of your mother and father or your friends), then beginning a enterprise may very well be your quickest path out of job limbo.
This 27-year-old selected to grow to be a enterprise proprietor as an alternative of looking for 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 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 a minimum of 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 determine the product, the service, the model, the technique. It might appear terrifying, nevertheless it’s additionally extremely liberating. What’s extra, beginning a enterprise forces you to study gross sales, advertising, customer support, financials, operations—unexpectedly. Even when you shut it down ultimately and determine to return into employment later, you’ll be miles forward of your friends when it comes to expertise and expertise.
And mockingly, the identical AI that’s making it arduous so that you can land an entry-level position within the workforce can now grow to be an ally. You should use it to assist run your corporation extra effectively— automating duties, managing buyer chats, creating content material, and extra.
Dangers of beginning a enterprise
After all, 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 on 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 provide you your a reimbursement.
However apparently, there is usually a shortcut.
As I just lately learnt, beginning your corporation by way of a franchise may be a better approach to overcome the widespread obstacles that new enterprise homeowners usually 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 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 you might want to check all the things —product-market match, R&D, security assessments or certifications, branding, gross sales and advertising channels, and so forth. That takes up time, cash, and loads of trial-and-error. Get it proper straightaway and you might be wealthy. Get it incorrect, and the prices are on you.
In distinction, whenever 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 Avenue Snacks – their clients patronise them for the model and might barely the distinction between which shops are HQ-owned vs. run by franchisees.
Other than model recognition and belief, most franchises present operational steerage and manuals, workers coaching, advertising 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! 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 faculty 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 could be value interested by.
However…are franchising charges value it?
There are all the time trade-offs whenever you run a enterprise. Constructing your personal doesn’t contain having to pay for any franchising charges, however you need to do a whole lot of issues from scratch and also you most likely gained’t be capable of profit from economies of scale. As an 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, whenever 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 repute can 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 fairly than when you tried to drag it off by your personal.
How a lot would all of this price? Relying on the model and business, franchise charges fluctuate broadly . Right here’s just a few examples:
If we take a look at the worth tag alone, a college diploma from NUS or NTU already units one again by the identical prices of a minimum of $30,000 – $50,000. That appeared like a worthy funding up to now when paper {qualifications} virtually assured college students a job upon commencement. However in at the moment’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 grow to be 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, individuals nonetheless must discover a approach to work and earn cash.
To place this into context, franchise charges could appear costly, however they usually include real-world enterprise mentorship, direct revenue potential, steerage from others (or a staff) who has already succeeded, in addition to a recognised model which clients already belief.
Will we see extra individuals 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?
| Side | Franchise Enterprise | Personal Enterprise (From Scratch) |
|---|---|---|
| Startup Value | 💸 Larger upfront price (franchise charge + setup prices) | 💡 Can begin small with decrease preliminary capital |
| Model Recognition | ✅ Prompt model credibility and buyer belief | ❌ Must construct repute and consciousness from scratch |
| Enterprise Mannequin | 📘 Confirmed methods, SOPs, and playbooks offered | 🧪 It’s good to check and refine your personal methods and mannequin |
| Artistic Freedom | ❌ Restricted – should observe model pointers | ✅ Full freedom to innovate and pivot |
| Advertising and marketing Assist | 📣 Typically offered by franchisor (nationwide campaigns, supplies) | 📱 You deal with all advertising, branding, and technique |
| Product/Service Management | ❌ Mounted product/service choices | ✅ You determine what to promote, change, or introduce |
| Coaching & Mentorship | 🎓 Supplied by franchisor, particularly firstly | 🧭 No formal steerage – you’ll have to seek 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 quicker resulting from confirmed mannequin | 🐢 Might take longer resulting from experimentation and advertising ramp-up |
| Threat of Failure | ⚠️ Decrease – success charges are typically increased for franchises | 🚨 Larger – 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 will depend on 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 technique to consider it could be whether or not you’re prepared to purchase a shortcut…or pay on your personal real-world “tuition charges” over the following few years of your corporation.
How a lot would you peg that worth at?
Conclusion
Now, this text is to not say that getting a level is now not essential. I’m a degree-holder myself, and I’ve picked up expertise 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 that 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 faculty diploma to ensure them a job, it could 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 latest employees have been the one to pay the worth.
So when you’re a contemporary grad feeling misplaced on this AI-powered job market, know that you just’re not alone—and it’s not your fault.
You may 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 choice at this level. Plus, when you have the capital means for it, then beginning a enterprise — be it your personal or by way of a franchise — could be a greater guess than sending out yet one more job utility that will get ignored.
You may construct. You may create. You may franchise.
You may take cost of your profession in methods our technology by no means may.
After all, take word 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 buyer expertise. Whether or not you determine to start out your personal enterprise or franchise a identified model, simply know this: your path doesn’t need to appear like everybody else’s.
In at the moment’s shopper economic system, that could be an alternate path out than to only wait round to get employed by another person.
The economic system is altering. Perhaps it’s time we modified the best way we strategy careers too.
With love,
Finances Babe
