As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes industries, concerns are mounting over which jobs are most at risk.
Experts, however, told Newsweek that there is the potential for growth in jobs that rely on qualities that AI struggles to replicate, such as health care and education.
Why It Matters
The capabilities of AI are expanding faster and faster, with many large language models (LLMs) currently passing Turing Tests regularly. A Turing Test aims to determine if a machine can exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from that of a human.
Automation and AI advancements are expected to disrupt millions of jobs globally, with the rise of LLMs like ChatGPT starting to be incorporated across dozens of different industries. A large amount of research has been dedicated to predicting which types of jobs are unlikely to be replaced.
What To Know
According to an analysis by the U.S. Career Institute, jobs with face-to-face interactions are far safer than most white-collar jobs from the encroachment of AI.
The study, which was published in February 2023, originally found that AI could impact as many as 300 million full-time jobs, but that health care and education workers were safest.
Nurse practitioner topped the list of safe jobs, as it involves direct patient care, empathy and complex judgment, making it difficult to automate.
Choreographer, physician assistant and mental health counsellor positions also stand out, for their projected growth and reliance on human interaction, while educators also remain in demand.
But Carsten Jung, head of Macroeconomics and AI at the Institute for Public Policy Research, told Newsweek that new advances could mean some counselling jobs could be under threat, and the exact extent of the impact cannot be ascertained yet.
“We have passed the ‘uncanny valley’—where machines are eerily similar to humans – and have entered truly uncharted territory,” Jung said. “An increasing number of people are already using AI for companionship and therapy. Advanced AI bots on social media could forever transform online conversations.”
He added: “We will need to decide what role we want this new type of intelligence to play in society and put in place policies to deliver this. At the moment policy is not keeping pace.”
Jung said that while most jobs would see some kind of change, the one with a heavy focus on face-to-face interactions would fare the best, and that green sector jobs could grow as well.
“Even if AI progress stopped where it is today, it could have big impacts on the labour market. We estimate that about 59 per cent of task in the economy could be significantly assisted by today’s AI. Two in three white collar tasks are at risk. ‘Back office jobs’ from personal assistants and coders to marketing workers could be the first to be hit,” he said.
Jung continued: “But the labor market could evolve, with new roles being created that emphasize face-to-face interactions, including teachers, health professionals and social workers. Jobs in the green economy, which often require physical tasks could also be the source of new jobs.”
Jasmine Sayyari, CEO of New Generation Network and creator of Chanci AI, also highlighted the difficulty of the “transition phase” of AI integration, especially in STEM jobs.
“The next ten years can be split into two distinct phases: transition and growth,” Sayyari told Newsweek. “We’re already deep into the transition phase. One clear signal is the rapid increase in the global SaaS industry, from around $157 billion in 2020 to approximately $250 billion today. This shows how quickly businesses are adopting AI solutions, and it’s reshaping the job market.
“In 2024 alone, over 150,000 job cuts were recorded across 525 tech companies, while the share of roles in STEM fields has risen to 10%, a notable jump since 2010. These shifts show that AI’s influence on the job market is no longer a distant projection; it’s happening now.”
Like Jung, Sayyari highlighted health and therapy as interaction-heavy areas that would still require a human face: “The most affected sectors include software development, where tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot automate parts of coding and boost workflows. Banking, insurance, healthcare (especially diagnostics and treatment planning), manufacturing, and retail are all seeing strong AI adoption.
“Less affected (for now) are roles that rely on empathy and human connection, such as nurses, doctors, therapists, counsellors, teachers, creatives, skilled trades, and social workers. Heavy industries like mining and sea work haven’t been disrupted much yet, but change is coming there too.
“AI carries a double edge: one side brings exciting tech advancement, and the other introduces real challenges on the human front. Confusion, the need to reskill and upskill, layoffs, and the wider social impact are often ignored in mainstream conversations.
“If the job market can adapt well during these first five years, the second phase could be one of real progress, both technologically and socially. As things stabilise, new job roles will emerge and the transformation of the human workforce will start to settle into a clearer structure.”
What Happens Next?
AI developments are expected to improve, with industry leaders like OpenAI releasing regular updates to their LLMs.
The post The Jobs That Will Be Safe From AI, According to Experts appeared first on Newsweek.
