These are the jobs AI can’t replace
The following contribution is from the World Economic Forum website and is written by Ian Shine, Senior Writer, Forum Stories.
AI is unlikely to be able to replace jobs that require human skills such as judgment, creativity, physical dexterity, and emotional intelligence.
As a result, the strongest job growth between 2023 and 2027 is expected to be in agricultural machinery operators, heavy truck and bus drivers, and vocational teachers, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023.
The skills most in demand by employers over the next five years will include analytical thinking, empathy and active listening, as well as leadership and social influence, according to the report.
I just asked ChatGPT this question: «Which jobs can’t AI replace?»
Within seconds, it generated a 275-word answer. When I asked him to reduce it to fewer than 50 words, he was much slower. Much slower.
This perhaps confirms some of the points ChatGPT raised in his original response, when he indicated to me that AI won’t be able to replace:
– Jobs that require human judgment and decision-making
– Jobs that require complex and nuanced communication
– He also stated that AI won’t displace jobs that require:
– Social and emotional intelligence
– Creativity and innovation
– Physical dexterity and mobility
Given that ChatGPT and other forms of generative AI generate their output by synthesizing what they find on the internet, it’s no surprise that his response aligns with some of the findings of the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023, a comprehensive analysis of how jobs and skills will evolve over the next five years, written by people.
The Safest Jobs in the Face of AI
Surveys conducted for the Future of Jobs Report suggest that the greatest job growth between 2023 and 2027 will be for agricultural machinery operators, heavy truck and bus drivers, and vocational teachers.
Machinery mechanics and repairers are in fourth place.
The greatest job growth between 2023 and 2027 is expected to be for agricultural equipment operators.
This suggests that one of the greatest advantages of the human brain over AI is its connection to a real human body.
In fact, expectations that physical and manual labor could be replaced by machines have diminished, and companies surveyed for the report have revised their estimates for increased automation downward: they believe 42% of tasks could be automated by 2027, compared to the 2020 Future of Jobs Report’s predictions that 47% could be automated by 2025.
Jobs in Agriculture
According to the 2023 report, the number of jobs for agricultural professionals is projected to increase by 30% over the next five years. This represents an additional 3 million jobs.
This is only partly because workers in this sector are much less likely to be affected by generative AI and Large Language Models (MLM) like ChatGPT.
Other reasons include the shortening of supply chains, as more and more small farms sell directly to consumers rather than through intermediaries.
The growing use of agricultural technologies and increased investments in climate change adaptation are also driving an expansion of agricultural jobs.
However, so-called «climate-smart agriculture,» which addresses the interrelated challenges of food security and accelerating climate change, is not only increasing employment but also improving living standards and environmental outcomes, as well as food security and crop resilience, according to the World Bank.
Jobs in Education
According to the Future of Jobs Report 2023 surveys, employment growth of 10% in the education sector is projected by 2027.
This could mean an additional 3 million jobs in vocational training and higher education.
«This growth is particularly prevalent in non-G20 countries, where it is expected to be approximately 50% higher than in G20 countries,» the report notes.
The high adoption of education and workforce development technologies is considered an important driver of job creation.
Closing the Skills Gap
The other factor is organizations’ growing efforts to close the skills gap, as AI and other technologies redefine the capabilities needed by employees and employers.
The most in-demand skills, as ChatGPT mentioned, are analytical and creative thinking. Other skills at the top of employers’ wish lists include:
Empathy and active listening
Motivation and self-awareness
Leadership and social influence
Talent management
Service orientation and customer service.
These are all highly human skills that fall outside the AI skill set.
Companies are expanding their training programs as AI alters skill requirements.
Jobs in Supply Chain and Logistics
As in the agricultural sector, the transition to localized supply chains is projected to be one of the largest gross job generators in the logistics industry.
However, the 2023 Future of Jobs Report notes that it could also lead to job losses, supply shortages, rising input costs, and a global economic slowdown, at least in the short term.
“The new economic geography brought about by the transformation of supply chains and a greater emphasis on resilience over efficiency is expected to generate net job growth, with benefits particularly for economies in Asia and the Middle East,” says Saadia Zahidi, managing director of the World Economic Forum.
According to the 2023 report’s surveys, a net increase of 2 million jobs,
equivalent to 12.5% of the workforce, is projected in the supply chain and logistics sector.
Trends in this field are being affected by a shortage of heavy-duty truck and heavy-duty truck drivers by mid-2022.
However, relatively low expectations about the impact of autonomous vehicles on job creation also suggest that the driving profession is unlikely to disappear in the near future.
There are relatively low expectations about the impact of autonomous vehicles on job creation.
«The future of the white-collar worker is more threatened than that of the Uber driver, because we don’t have self-driving cars yet, but AI can certainly write reports,» Martin Ford, author of «Robots Rule: How Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Everything,» told the BBC.
«In many cases, more highly educated workers will be more threatened than less-skilled ones. Think of the person who cleans hotel rooms: it’s really hard to automate that job.»
Overall, 50% of organizations expect AI to generate job growth, while only 25% believe it will lead to job losses, according to the Forum report.
When I asked ChatGPT for its opinion on whether more jobs will be created or lost due to AI, this is what it had to say:
“The impact of AI on job creation or loss is a complex and multifaceted issue, and the answer will depend on various factors, such as the specific sector, the type of job, and the level of implementation and adoption of AI technology.”
Perhaps it’s time for ChatGPT to conduct one of those refresher courses that cover analytical thinking.
More than 120 jobs that AI won’t replace
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There are many jobs that AI won’t replace; in fact, AI automation could even help professionals in these fields do their jobs better than before.
Artificial intelligence has many great applications in the workplace, from automating customer service workflows to quickly processing large scientific data sets.
But this doesn’t mean AI will completely displace human workers; in fact, off the bat, we can think of at least 120 jobs that AI won’t replace.
Healthcare Jobs That AI Can’t Replace
AI tools like ChatGPT can’t replace
the individual human interaction and interpersonal skills possessed by healthcare professionals.
From direct care to mental health support, people will remain an essential part of healthcare.
That said, healthcare is not immune to the impact of AI.
Generative AI in healthcare is useful for many reasons, including assisting care teams with repetitive tasks such as transcribing clinical notes or organizing data sets in Excel.
Advanced to Mid-Level Clinical Positions
Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
Psychiatrists and Therapists
Midwives and Gynecologists
Physical Therapists
Pharmacists
Veterinarians
Dentists
Wellness and Preventive Health Positions
Nutritionists and Dietitians
Health Coaches and Wellness Consultants
Mental Health Counselors
Occupational Therapists
Entry-Level and Support Positions
Medical Assistants
Home Health Aides and Caregivers
Medical Receptionists
Peer Support Specialists
Veterinary Technicians
Dental Hygienists
Healthcare Jobs That AI Can’t Replace
Creative Jobs That AI Can’t Replicate
Many creative endeavors involve creating something with one’s hands; such imaginative and inventive endeavors will be difficult to replace with any type of AI.
Even computer-based creative work, such as that performed by writers and graphic designers, is unlikely to be completely replaced by machines. While AI tools, such as an AI image generator, may appear to create unique creative or artistic content, they actually only recombine elements provided to them through training data.
The output of an AI tool is always predictive, based on algorithms and the experience it has been exposed to thus far.
This software simply cannot emulate human creativity and lacks what scientists call neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new connections between neurons) and the ability to fine-tune the functioning and communication between different brain regions.
Established artistic positions
Theater actors and dancers
Jewelry designers and glassblowers
Muralists and live musicians
Entry-level and emerging creative positions
Illustrators and cartoonists
Creative assistants
Social media content creators
Makeup artists and face painters
Artists and DIY entrepreneurs
Specialized Jobs AI Can’t Do
An AI chatbot might be able to provide information on how to properly install a pipe or wire an electrical outlet, but it can’t perform the necessary tasks or be reliable for practical, real-time problem-solving.
There will always be a need for professionals with expertise in skilled trades, construction, engineering, and other disciplines related to home or infrastructure construction.
These professionals can turn to AI and automation to streamline tasks like data processing, invoicing, and customer account management, but human workers will still perform the practical work.
Established Skilled Jobs
Electricians
Plumbers
HVAC Technicians
Auto Mechanics
Entry-Level Jobs and Support Positions
Carpentry and Woodworking Apprentices
Construction Workers
Utility Markers and Site Guides
Painting Assistants and Preppers
Skilled Labor Jobs AI Can’t Do
Teaching and Academic Jobs Safe from AI
While AI is certainly a useful tool for research and study, or even a language practice partner, it can’t replace instruction from a knowledgeable human. Learning directly from someone with expertise in a specific field can give you insights you won’t get by interacting with AI, reading a book, or watching a movie.
Humans will also remain a vital part of academic research.
Since generative AI tools can only extract information from existing datasets, they can’t find new information (or conduct an archaeological dig, for that matter).
Professors and lecturers are likely to use AI in their work, whether organizing lesson plans, transcribing audio, and more.
However, we will still need staff to work in education and research.
Established Educational Roles
Classroom Teachers (K-12)
University Professors
Tutors and Learning Advisors
Research and Scholarship
Historians and Anthropologists
Archaeologists
Educational Researchers
Entry-Level and Support Roles
Teacher Assistants (TAs)
Library Technicians
After-School Program Facilitators
Museum Educators and Educational Assistants
What AI Can Do in Education vs. What Only Humans Can Do
AI can: Only humans can:
Generate quizzes
Lead debates and group discussions
Grade multiple-choice tests
Support students’ emotional well-being
Translate text
Read visual and physical cues that indicate distress or confusion
Summarize data
Teach courage, empathy, and creativity
Service Jobs AI Won’t Replace
From planning and supervising events to cutting hair or cleaning a house, countless service and personal care jobs will continue to require a human touch.
Some of these professionals may use AI technologies to collect data or perform tasks such as planning schedules and creating marketing materials.
Ultimately, however, all of these jobs will continue to require a human connection and empathy.
Experienced service roles:
Massage therapists
Hairdressers and barbers
Manicurists
Tattoo artists
Estheticians
Tailors
Entry-level and support positions
Salon assistants
Spa receptionists
Dog grooming assistants
Dog grooming assistant
Leadership, legal, and busin
