If you’re hoping to get an early-career job in the age of AI, get ready to pick up the hard hat, scrubs, or chalk.
Recent graduates are entering a job market where entry-level work is increasingly being reshaped by AI models, but not all fields may be equally exposed.
Business Insider analyzed data from a September working paper by US Census Bureau researchers that estimates the extent to which different fields of study are exposed to AI. The paper evaluates exposure by assessing whether GPT-4 could substantially reduce the time required to complete tasks in jobs that young graduates in each field typically enter.
Some of the most exposed fields, according to the working paper, include computer-focused fields such as computer science, computer engineering, and computer programming, as well as information sciences. Statistics, applied mathematics, electrical engineering, actuarial science, and journalism also ranked among the highest-exposure fields.
The study found that graduates in the highest-exposure fields were 5 percentage points less likely to be employed in the quarter after graduation and had 13% lower initial full-quarter earnings than graduates in less-exposed fields after ChatGPT became widely available in 2022.
On the other hand, fields like teaching, medical assisting, and nutrition were found to be among the least exposed to AI.
For this ranking, Business Insider looked at the fields in the paper’s three lowest-exposure deciles and combined closely related specialties to rank the 25 least-exposed general career paths.
While looking at job exposure to AI can help draw a picture of what jobs may be more vulnerable, this ranking isn’t definitive, and the study reflects only GPT-4’s ability to speed up job tasks.
See what college majors might be safest from AI in the future.
25. General and interdisciplinary science
This broad science degree combines biology, chemistry, physics, math, and environmental science. Graduates often work as lab or research assistants, technicians, science educators, or specialists. Many also use it as preparation for various health professions education.
24. Nutrition and dietetics
The work of dietitians and nutritionists often involves tailoring advice to each patient’s health and circumstances, such as culture, budget, and lifestyle. Graduates also often go on to work as public health specialists or health educators.
23. Criminology
Criminology experts often work in community-focused areas like law enforcement, corrections, crime analysis, or victim services. Their work often involves interpreting behavior and evidence, making difficult judgment calls with legal and community safety consequences.
22. Visual and performing arts
Some may say AI art will replace human artists, but we probably won’t see an Oscar-winning AI model for a while.
Performance and studio artists, such as performers, musicians, actors, painters, sculptors, and designers, may be among the least replaceable professionals in the age of AI, as their work showcases human creativity, performance, and collaboration.
21. Liberal arts
The core of subjects like philosophy and literature is often human by design. Liberal arts graduates often apply their studies and skills to analyzing, expressing, and adapting ideas in areas such as law, communications, nonprofit work, public service, research, education, and business.
20. Physiology
Physiology graduates study the human body’s systems and often go on to work in clinical research, laboratory work, health education, or other health professions. Their work often involves supporting patient care and interpreting biological findings.
19. Family and consumer sciences
Graduates in family and consumer sciences help people make better decisions about relationships, finances, and family well-being; they often work in areas like human development, family services, consumer education, and community programs.
18. Social work and human services
Social work and human services graduates often help people navigate crises, connect with benefits, access adequate care, and build support networks. They also often deal with uniquely complex circumstances that require specialized judgment and trust.
17. Health sciences and pre-health programs
Health sciences and pre-health programs prepare students for careers in medicine, dentistry, physician-assistant studies, public health, clinical research, or patient support. Graduates often work directly with patients, healthcare systems, and care teams.
16. Speech therapy and communication disorders
Speech therapists and communication disorder majors study how speech develops in humans and how to address various challenges affecting communication. Their work often involves assessing and treating different conditions in speech, hearing, language, and communication through individualized patient care.
15. Forestry, ecology, and natural-resource management
Forestry, natural resource management, and ecology majors often work as foresters, conservation scientists, environmental planners, land managers, or wildlife technicians. Their work often involves monitoring ecosystems and managing land based on ground conditions.
14. Criminal justice and fire protection
So far, AI cannot save anyone from a burning house. Graduates in criminal justice and fire protection work in highly physically demanding fields that require a high level of situational awareness and preparedness, such as first responders, fire services, policing and corrections, and public safety administration.
13. Transportation and logistics
Specialists in transportation and logistics are the human motor behind the supply chain. They often work in freight operations, warehousing, dispatching, transportation, and fleet management. Their work involves coordinating transportation routes and schedules as well as managing disruptions.
12. Secondary and subject-area teaching
Graduates of secondary and teacher education programs are the backbone of high school curricula and often go on to teach in subjects such as math, science, English, social studies, art, and music.
11. General teacher education and education studies
Beyond level- and subject-specific teaching, general education studies are also a solid path for those looking to enter education, which is overall one of the safest fields in terms of exposure to AI. Graduates’ work often focuses on teaching, curriculum development, and instructional support.
10. Physical education, kinesiology, and recreation management
Graduates from these programs often go on to work as physical education teachers, coaches, fitness professionals, or youth program leaders.
9. Plant sciences and agronomy
Graduates from plant sciences and agronomy programs often use their knowledge and skills to assess soil health, manage pests, maximize yields, and make weather-based decisions while working with crops, farms, and greenhouses for agricultural companies.
8. Animal sciences and zoology
Graduates in animal sciences and zoology often work in animal care, zoos, conservation, research, wildlife biology, and agriculture. Their work often involves working directly with animals to study their health, behavior, habitats, and ecosystems.
7. Nursing
Nursing provides uniquely human patient care that AI can’t replicate yet. Their work often involves applying clinical judgment and providing hands-on care, including administering medication, monitoring patient symptoms, and collaborating with medical teams.
6. Physical, occupational, and related therapy programs
Programs in physical and occupational therapy often lead to careers focused on patient rehabilitation, with high demand for hands-on assessment and the development of tailored recovery plans.
5. Special education
Special education teachers support students with disabilities in achieving educational goals by adapting instruction, developing individualized plans, and working closely with students, families, and specialists to build academic and life skills. This work demands patience, knowledge, and interpersonal skills from graduates.
4. Medical laboratory technology
Graduates working with medical laboratories and clinical technologies test blood, tissue, and other patient samples. In doing so, they help doctors diagnose and treat illness. These trained professionals ensure reliable results and troubleshoot problems with automated equipment.
3. Early childhood and elementary education
The safest category of teachers in terms of AI exposure is those who work directly with a school’s youngest students. Teachers in elementary and early-childhood education are key to helping children achieve foundational learning and social development. Their work often involves managing young classrooms, working closely with parents, and developing lesson plans for different student needs.
2. Educational administration and leadership
AI is not replacing school principals anytime soon. Graduates of educational administration and leadership often go on to work as school principals, district administrators, and instructional leaders after gaining classroom experience and other credentials. Their work involves managing staff, responding to parents’ needs, setting school- or district-wide priorities, and making community-shaping decisions.
1. Medical assisting services
Even high-tech clinics need someone assisting at a patient’s bedside. Medical assisting is the safest field in terms of AI exposure, according to the US Census Bureau working paper.
Graduates in the field often work on patient intake, taking vital signs, and handling administrative tasks such as updating medical histories and scheduling future care. While AI might streamline the paperwork side of medical care, the industry still depends on direct patient contact to keep a clinic running.
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