What jobs I’m telling my kids to avoid… because AI is coming for them

What jobs to tell your kids to avoid because AI may replace it?

Every generation gives its children advice about work. When I was growing up, the message was simple: get a qualification, work hard, and you’ll be safe. That formula doesn’t work anymore.

Artificial intelligence has rewritten the rules.

I’ve started telling my kids something very different — “pick a job that AI can’t easily do.”

The rise of AI and jobs automation is no longer science fiction. It’s reshaping companies, rewriting job descriptions, and wiping out roles that once felt secure. According to a 2025 World Economic Forum report, 40% of employers plan to reduce their workforce by automating tasks.

While AI will also create new jobs, the immediate problem is disruption. Entire career paths are being redefined faster than schools and universities can adapt.

AI is changing how work gets done, who gets hired, and what skills matter. That’s why it’s time to talk honestly about which jobs are in danger — and which ones will survive.

The truth about AI and jobs

AI is no longer confined to tech companies or labs. It’s now part of accounting, healthcare, law, marketing, and even journalism. The same systems that help us write emails, schedule meetings, or edit photos are quietly doing tasks that used to need whole teams of people.

The pattern is simple: jobs that rely on repetition, data, or rules are at risk. AI thrives on predictable work — and that covers a lot of what humans do.

A 2025 survey found that AI can perform up to 80% of a journalist’s daily tasks. Customer service chatbots can now handle 80% of queries without human help. In accounting, cloud-based AI systems manage bookkeeping and analysis automatically.

For most people, the threat isn’t losing a job to a robot — it’s losing relevance in a world where technology can do much of what we do, only faster and cheaper.

Careers most vulnerable to automation

Here’s what I tell my kids: if your career involves routine, structured, or repetitive tasks, think carefully. AI may not take your job today, but it’s already learning how to do it.

• Writers and journalists: Generative AI produces articles and summaries in seconds. Writers who once had steady work now compete with chatbots.

• Customer service representatives: AI chat systems handle simple queries instantly, cutting costs and staff.

• Data entry and administration: Scheduling, forms, and basic office work are now automated.

• Translators: Translation software can process multiple languages with high accuracy.

• Financial and market analysts: AI tools analyse vast data sets and detect trends far faster than humans.

• Graphic designers: Systems like DALL-E and Midjourney can generate professional designs in moments.

• Telemarketers: Automated calling systems handle customer interactions with minimal human input.

• Proofreaders and editors: AI tools now outperform humans in catching grammar and spelling mistakes.

These jobs share one trait: they rely on information and patterns that AI can easily learn.

Why some jobs are at greater risk

The jobs most exposed to AI and automation tend to share a few features. They’re predictable, digital, and repeatable. If your work can be written down as a process or checklist, AI can probably learn it.

• Routine tasks: The more structured the job, the easier it is for AI to replicate.

• Entry-level roles: Most early career jobs involve repetitive support work — making them AI’s easiest targets.

• Digital environments: Work done entirely on computers, like data analysis or marketing, is more vulnerable.

• Rapid change: The pace of AI development means roles can go from safe to obsolete within a year.

Microsoft, for instance, now uses AI to write around 30% of its code. At the same time, it laid off thousands of software engineers — proof that automation is already reshaping even technical careers.

The disappearing entry-level jobs

AI is quietly erasing the foundation of many career paths — entry-level work.

Big Tech firms have reduced graduate hiring by more than 25% since 2023, not because business is slow, but because the roles themselves are disappearing. AI systems can handle basic research, reports, and analysis.

Bloomberg found that AI could replace 53% of market research analyst tasks and 67% of sales representative tasks.

As Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei warned: “Half of all entry-level white-collar jobs could disappear within five years.”

That’s why I tell my kids: don’t plan for the job market of today. Plan for the one that’s coming next.

The AI job risk ladder

Below is a simple way to visualise how different types of jobs stack up when it comes to AI risk.

Risk Level	Job Examples	Why They’re at Risk (or Safe)
High Risk	Data entry clerks, customer service reps, copywriters, translators, bookkeepers, telemarketers	Repetitive, rules-based, and easily automated
Medium Risk	Software developers, accountants, designers, paralegals, research assistants	Some creative or analytical work remains, but automation is increasing
Low Risk	Teachers, lawyers, psychologists, healthcare specialists, skilled trades, artists	Require empathy, creativity, strategy, or physical skill that AI cannot mimic

The takeaway? The more human your job is — emotionally, physically, or socially — the safer it tends to be.

The jobs that will survive

Not every career is under threat. In fact, some will thrive as AI takes over routine tasks and frees humans to focus on creativity and strategy.

Teachers: Education needs empathy, motivation, and the ability to inspire. No machine can replace that.

Lawyers and judges: Legal work involves reasoning, persuasion, and ethical judgment. AI may help research cases but can’t argue them.

Psychologists and therapists: Human trust and emotional understanding can’t be replicated by software.

Surgeons and healthcare workers: Robotics can assist, but they don’t decide treatment paths or comfort anxious patients.

Skilled trades: Electricians, plumbers, and builders perform complex manual work that depends on judgment and dexterity.

Artists and creative leaders: True creativity — the spark of originality and emotional depth — remains a human trait.

These careers may evolve with AI, but they won’t vanish because of it.

The new jobs created by AI

Here’s the good news: while some careers disappear, new ones are emerging.

The demand for AI and machine learning specialists, AI ethics officers, data scientists, and human–AI collaboration experts is growing fast. Even traditional sectors like education, healthcare, and finance now need people who understand how AI works.

But there’s a challenge. About 77% of AI-related jobs require postgraduate qualifications, and many need technical training. That means the future belongs to those who are willing to learn and adapt.

The lesson I share with my kids is simple: don’t fear AI — learn to work with it.

How to embrace AI and future-proof your career

If you’re worried about the future, don’t panic — prepare. The best protection against automation is adaptability.

• Keep learning: Take online courses, join workshops, and keep your skills updated.

• Build soft skills: Emotional intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving will only become more valuable.

• Be flexible: Stay open to change. Careers will shift, and agility will keep you relevant.

• Find your niche: Specialisation helps you stand out in fields where AI can’t yet compete.

• Learn the tools: Master AI systems like ChatGPT, Copilot, and industry-specific platforms. If you can use them better than others, your job is safer.

As the saying goes, AI won’t take your job if you’re the best at using it.

The reality check

AI is already changing the workforce. Companies like Microsoft, IBM, Meta, and Amazon have all announced significant layoffs tied to automation. Governments are following suit, introducing

AI to streamline public sector roles.

By 2030, experts predict that 30% of all work hours could be automated. That’s not a forecast — it’s a countdown.

Each day, somewhere in the world, another job becomes obsolete because software now does it faster. But alongside every lost job, a new one emerges — one that values insight, ethics, and creativity over repetition.

That’s the balance we all need to find.

Sorry, but...adapt or be automated

It’s natural to fear what we don’t fully understand. But AI isn’t the enemy. The real danger is standing still.

AI is coming for some jobs — but not all of them. The future belongs to people who see AI as a tool, not a threat.

When I talk to my kids about careers, I tell them this: don’t chase safety, chase humanity. Pick work that needs your judgement, your empathy, your creativity.

Because while machines can process information, only people can truly understand it.

Key takeaways and recommendations

• Jobs involving routine or repetitive digital work are most exposed.

• Careers focused on creativity, empathy, or physical skills remain strong.

• Upskilling and adaptability are essential for job security.

• The smartest workers are those who use AI better than anyone else.

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