Orlando Bravo, founder of Thoma Bravo, stated at the SuperReturn conference in Berlin on Tuesday that AI will transform junior workers' roles by eliminating grunt work, allowing them to mature faster. Bravo explained that junior associates spend less time on models and comparables, focusing instead on investing operations and business strategy. The comments come amid growing concerns about youth unemployment, with UK data showing over one million young people not in education, employment or training in the first four months of the year.
Bravo Details Changed Role for Junior Associates
Bravo told CNBC's Annette Weisbach that junior associates' jobs will become greater and they will "mature a lot quicker." He stated: "They're spending a lot less time doing models or comparables than before...overall, now they really get into investing operations and a much bigger way of thinking about business."
Bravo added: "I bother them a lot less, because at midnight I can do something really quickly with AI instead of comparables, instead of calling them to do it in the middle of the night, which improves their life anyway, which is what they want."
Bravo said: "For young people, AI is going to be amazing, and I'm very, very upset that some people say that it'll destroy entry-level jobs. If you define the role of an associate as just doing a spreadsheet, you don't need that, but our associates are now calling on companies a lot more. They're developing relationships with CEOs, and we need a lot more of them."
Bravo stated it is the first time in his 30-year career in private equity where he has needed to hire more, as AI creates more work.
Youth Unemployment Rises in UK
Recent data showed the number of young people not in education, employment or training in the U.K. increased to over one million in the first four months of the year. Young people are facing an increasingly competitive job market in the U.S. and U.K. as companies lay off thousands of workers and deploy AI, resulting in a shrinking of entry-level jobs.
Major Companies Cut Jobs Citing AI
AI was behind over 50,000 layoffs in the U.S. in 2025. Major firms including Salesforce, IBM, and Microsoft cited AI as a reason for job cuts.
Meta said in April that it plans to lay off about 10% of its workforce to offset major capex spending on AI infrastructure this year, which the tech giant said could reach up to $135 billion in 2026.
Jack Dorsey's Block laid off over 4,000 people, or over half of its workforce, saying it can operate more efficiently with a smaller team as AI automates more work.
UK Government Launches AI Upskilling Initiative
The U.K.'s technology secretary Liz Kendall said the government is focused on upskilling young workers on AI by providing free courses to help boost employment. Entry-level workers with AI skills can command salaries up to 25% higher, according to data from Randstad.
Kendall said in a conversation with CNBC's Ritika Gupta on "Squawk Box Europe": "We will help people through the jobs transition, we will give people the skills, we'll redesign those entry-level jobs. We've got a goal of upskilling 10 million workers by 2030. That is a third of the workforce, and already we've delivered 1.7 million AI skills courses. The truth is this: you're more likely to get a job and get a better-paid job with AI skills, and that is why we're putting such emphasis."
FAQ
What did Orlando Bravo say about AI's impact on junior workers at the SuperReturn conference?
Orlando Bravo stated at the SuperReturn conference in Berlin on Tuesday that AI will help junior associates mature faster by eliminating grunt work such as models and comparables. He said they now focus more on investing operations, developing relationships with CEOs, and strategic business thinking.
How many young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training?
Recent data showed the number of young people not in education, employment or training in the U.K. increased to over one million in the first four months of the year.
What is the UK government's goal for AI skills training?
The UK government has a goal of upskilling 10 million workers by 2030, representing a third of the workforce. The government has already delivered 1.7 million AI skills courses and is providing free courses to help boost employment among young workers.
