Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the local job market and is likely to hit entry-level and younger workers particularly hard, a pair of recent reports found.

Why it matters: Younger workers and college grads were already facing a grim and "frozen" job market and AI is likely to make it worse.

The big picture: Roughly 1.5 million Virginia jobs could be affected by AI in the coming years, per a Virginia Chamber Foundation report looking at the effect of the technology on statewide jobs.

• "Affected" here doesn't mean eliminated, the report notes, but that some tasks are likely to be automated or augmented by AI, which could ultimately lead to fewer roles in the future.
• Software developers, retail salespeople, managers, customer service reps and office clerks are among the careers in Virginia with the "greatest AI exposure" risk, for workers of all ages.
• But younger workers (ages 21–35) are likely to feel the risk exposure more acutely for those fields and more because entry-level tasks are the ones most likely to be automated.

By the numbers: In the Richmond region, 240,000 jobs (34.3% of all jobs) face AI exposure — that's the second-highest share in Virginia behind Northern Virginia, per the report.

• That includes 77,300 "young worker jobs."
• Statewide, nearly 500,000 young worker jobs are at risk of AI exposure.

Meanwhile, a separate report from the Greater Washington Partnership looking at the tech labor market in the Baltimore-to-Richmond region found that AI is already reshaping entry-level roles.

• Between 2022 and 2025 the number of tech job postings in the Baltimore-to-Richmond region plummeted, dropping by 45%–54% for financial managers, data scientists and other computer-related jobs.
• Senior-level job postings also declined for the same fields over the same period, but only by 4%–28%.

The bottom line: AI isn't wiping out jobs — yet — but it's rapidly shifting work and hiring.

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It's been over three months since Mayor Avula and RRHA struck a deal to work together on redeveloping Gilpin Court, the city's largest public housing complex.

Why it matters: Officials hailed it as a move that put residents first. Residents say they're still waiting to see what's actually changed.

State of play: In a statement last week, the resident-led Gilpin Informed Residents group called for "immediate accountability" on the standards Avula set for the project last fall, saying they haven't been met.

• The group wants a pause on evictions until those promises are put in writing.
• Their conditions include a tenants' bill of rights, resident-involved oversight committee and guaranteed one-for-one, on-site replacement of all 781 Gilpin units.

The latest: The city and the public housing authority haven't signed off on the agreements needed to make the plan legally binding, city spokesperson Ross Catrow confirmed to Axios.

• Catrow said they expect to introduce it to City Council "in the coming weeks," where it'll later be up for public comment.
• RRHA and the tenants group didn't respond to Axios' requests for comment.

What they're saying: "This is not just a public housing issue," the group wrote, warning that displacement "creates a ripple effect of housing instability" that affects Richmond's schools and workforce.

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💸 Pocahontas Parkway tolls went up yesterday and are now $6.15 (up from $5.95) at the Main Toll Plaza and $3.55 (up from $3.45) at the Laburnum/New Market and Airport Drive ramps. (News release)

🚭 The city's Operation Vaporize vape shop building code enforcement initiative restarts Tuesday. It's been on pause since early March. (The Richmonder)

🏗️ A NoVa-based developer bought a 6-acre former parking lot at at 4400 W. Broad St. last week for $11.5 million. (BizSense)

• A 300-unit apartment complex will rise on the site, which straddles the Richmond-Henrico line.

🏁 Richmond is reducing the speed limit on Westover Hills Boulevard, between Forest Hill Avenue and the Nickel Bridge, to 25mph in mid-April. (News release)

⚾️ The Flying Squirrels will televise six games on CW Richmond this season. (News release)

Richmond is packed with ways to get out and explore this Easter weekend.

Friday

🚎 First Fridays Artwalk is on in the Arts District, with the free trolley back for the season and expanded pop-up markets. Starts at 5pm. Free.

🎥 Marvels of Media Festival, a sensory-friendly film fest featuring short flicks from media makers with autism, runs through Saturday at the Byrd Theatre. Tickets start at $6.33.

Saturday

👒 Dominion Energy Family Easter at Maymont is on, with kid-friendly activities, dancing Easter egg hunt and more. 9am-3pm. $7 for adults.

🎤 There's a Back to the 80s: Sing-Along Brunch at Harry's at Hofheimer with a DJ spinning all the "classics." 11am and 1:30pm. $15, not including brunch.

🐶 Take your pup to get a pic with the Easter Bunny at Ruff Canine Club's Easter Party. 1-4pm. $10.

Sunday

🐣 Easter on Parade — the bonnet-wearing, kid face-painting, dog-costume stroll you never want to miss — is back on Monument Avenue. 1-5pm. Free.

Keep reading for Easter egg hunts and an Easter Bunny DJ

📅 Upcoming events around the city.

Spring Break at Kings Dominion now through Apr 5: There's no better way to enjoy Spring Break with friends and family than creating new memories at Kings Dominion with some of your favorite rides and attractions!

• For the best value, take advantage of the Spring Sale that provides a Free Upgrade to a Gold Pass for the price of a Silver at $89.

Sabrina here, back with our annual roundup of the best local April Fools' jokes that popped up on the worst holiday for gullible people.

Why it matters: I wish some of them had been real.

🐏 VCU's Black and Gold mayonnaise

In a full blown hype video, VCU introduced a limited edition black and gold mayo (mostly gobs of black goo) that reps the Rams "one spread at a time."

• They also had students do a taste test.

🚠 Cable car over the James River

Richmond was this close to being more European after Venture Richmond said plans had been approved for a cable system over the James River.

• At $2 per ride, it would've been the cheapest romantic date around.

✈️ A nonstop flight to Norfolk

Richmond airport capitalized on how many people hate the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and announced a 30-minute nonstop to Norfolk — starting April 31.

Keep reading for ones about goats and bike lanes

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that it's the Hampton Roads tunnel (not the Chesapeake Bay Bridge one) that Richmonders take to get to Norfolk.