As the power of artificial intelligence grows, many workers have begun to fret that the technology could spell the end of their careers.
Experts generally agree that AI will change many aspects of our lives, including how we work. However, some jobs may be well-situated to survive the AI revolution.
Recently, the Pew Research Center used its own judgment to divide jobs into exposure-level categories based on how likely it is that common activities in those fields will involve AI.
Encouragingly, Pew notes that most workers do not have jobs with high exposure to AI. And some jobs appear to be particularly protected from the technology.
This is especially true for:
- Men
- Black and Hispanic workers
- Younger workers
- Workers with less formal education
Here are the jobs Pew says are “most likely to have low exposure to AI,” which should come as a relief to workers in these fields.
Barbers
Median annual wage for this job: $29,680 as of 2021
AI is pretty smart, but it’s difficult to imagine it offering a shave and a haircut any time soon. Thus, barbers probably will be gainfully employed for some time to come.
Child care workers
Median annual wage for this job: $27,490 as of 2021
Even if AI could take care of our kids, would you allow it to do so? This is a job where finding a trustworthy, competent human being is priceless and unlikely to go out of fashion.
Dishwashers
Median annual wage for this job: $29,560 as of May 2022
In theory, replacing dishwashers with a machine or software that does the task makes sense. But we probably are not quite at the point where AI is going to scrape dishes with the speed and efficiency of its human counterparts.
Other jobs with low exposure to AI
Here are the other jobs that the Pew Research Center says have a low exposure to AI:
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Fence erectors
- Firefighters
- Gambling services workers
- Helpers — installation, maintenance and repair workers
- Janitors and building cleaners
- Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Nursing assistants
- Orderlies and psychiatric aides
- Passenger attendants
- Personal care aides
- Pipelayers
- Presser, textile, garment and related materials
- Sawing machine setter, operators and tenders, wood
- Skin care specialists
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