Author: Arindam Mukherjee

The conversation around an AI “meltdown” is shifting from a science-fiction fear to a documented economic reality. By mid-2026, we are seeing a “silent disruption” characterised more by a decline in labour force participation and entry-level “hiring freezes” than by a sudden, singular mass layoff event. We are probably not heading toward a single dramatic “all jobs disappear” meltdown. What’s more likely is a long, uneven restructuring of the labour market, but with some sectors experiencing very sharp pain, especially white-collar entry-level work. This is not a single sudden crash, but a 5-8 year structural shock. White‑collar, middle‑skill, process‑heavy jobs…