Some jobs that AI won’t replace fully or anytime soon include the roles of anesthesiologist, teacher, personal trainer, judge, firefighter, cybersecurity engineer, and social worker.
As different as these occupations are, they have one thing in common: they involve hands-on work, social interaction, ethical judgment, or other human elements that artificial intelligence can’t replicate. In this article, we’ll cover AI-resistant jobs and tips for a future-proof career to help you remain competitive in the modern job market.
Key Takeaways
AI-proof jobs typically involve direct interaction with people, dynamic environments, manual labor, ethical judgment, or original thinking.
Some examples of jobs that AI won’t replace include the positions of nurse, electrician, professor, hairstylist, police officer, psychologist, actor, and lawyer.
To future-proof your career, remain open to change and continuous learning, improve your soft skills, and build a strong personal brand.
What Makes a Job AI-Proof?
A job is AI-proof when it relies on uniquely human skills and qualities that artificial intelligence can’t replicate easily. Jobs that AI won’t replace usually involve one or more of the following:
Physical skills. While AI can replace or enhance many office jobs, hands-on jobs that require motor skills cannot be easily automated or replaced by artificial intelligence.
Original thought. Although AI can produce creative output, it can’t come up with original ideas. As such, it can’t fully replace jobs that require imagination and innovation.
Ethical judgment. AI can’t handle complex tasks involving ethically gray areas and moral dilemmas as humans can. Nonetheless, National University of Singapore researchers argue that AI can help organizations and leaders make more ethical decisions. Still, it is unlikely to replace jobs that require human judgment.
Social interaction. Artificial intelligence cannot replace jobs that rely on emotional intelligence or human connection, such as counseling or caregiving.
Unstructured environments. While AI and automation can help with repetitive tasks, artificial intelligence can’t effectively manage dynamic jobs that require adaptability.
128 Jobs that AI Won’t Replace Anytime Soon
Without further ado, let’s discuss jobs that AI won’t replace anytime soon:
#1. Healthcare Jobs
Jobs in healthcare revolve around patient care, which requires a high level of human interaction.
Researchers at King Abdulaziz Medical City suggest that artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. More specifically, it can improve laboratory testing, disease diagnosis, and treatment selection.
Nonetheless, AI lacks the ability to make ethical decisions, show compassion, and build trust with patients. Therefore, it can’t replace most healthcare jobs, including those of:
Nurses
Dentists
Midwives
Surgeons
Veterinarians
Clinical ethicists
Dental hygienists
Anesthesiologists
Home health aides
Physical therapists
Speech-language pathologists
With an average of almost 2 million openings expected each year between 2023 and 2033, healthcare is among the fastest-growing sectors. If you’re hoping to land a job as a healthcare professional, some essential skills you should highlight in your resume include:
Empathy
Flexibility
Active listening
#2. Skilled Trade Jobs
Skilled trades encompass various fields, from plumbing to construction and beyond, all of which involve hands-on, physical work. Although some elements of skilled trades, such as invoicing, can be automated, AI can’t perform manual labor. As such, it will never replace skilled trades, most of which are experiencing rapid growth.
Some examples of skilled trade jobs that are safe from AI include:
Roofer
Welder
Plumber
Carpenter
Locksmith
Electrician
HVAC technician
Solar panel installer
Construction worker
Automotive technician
Pest control technician
Heavy equipment operator
A well-written resume can maximize your chances of landing a high-paying trade job. Here are some skills it should highlight:
Communication
Customer service
Time management
Industry-specific skills (e.g., drywall installation, flooring, plumbing, etc.)
#3. Teaching and Education Jobs
Jobs in teaching and education involve more complex tasks than simply transferring knowledge or grading assignments. Professionals working in this field may also need to supervise students, adapt to diverse learning styles and disabilities, or conduct academic research, none of which AI can fully do.
If you’re looking to build a rewarding career that AI won’t replace, consider pursuing one of these jobs:
Professor
Teacher’s aide
Research mentor
Academic advisor
Instructional coach
Educational consultant
Special education teacher
Preschool, elementary, middle school, or high school teacher
The job outlook for education occupations varies depending on several factors, including the job title and location.
To write an interview-worthy teacher resume, make sure to include the following skills:
Leadership
Organization
Conflict resolution
Presentation skills
#4. Personal Care and Service Jobs
Personal care and service jobs require human interaction, as they involve working directly with clients in real-time. Many of these services are touch-based, making it impossible for AI to provide them.
If you’re interested in building a career with a human touch and loads of one-on-one interaction, you might want to pursue one of the following future-proof jobs:
Barber
Hairstylist
Tattoo artist
Makeup artist
Cosmetologist
Nail technician
Childcare worker
Personal shopper
Massage therapist
Animal care worker
Funeral service worker
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment rate in this field is expected to grow faster than the rates for other occupations in the upcoming years.
Listing the following skills is key to creating a winning resume for personal care and service roles:
Active listening
Client retention
Customer service
Communication skills
Industry-specific skills, such as color correction, facial treatments, etc.
#5. Sports and Fitness Jobs
Like personal care and service, sports and fitness jobs require direct social interaction that artificial intelligence can’t provide.
Here are a few popular sports and fitness jobs that AI won’t replace:
Kinesiologist
Sports coach
Athletic trainer
Yoga instructor
Personal trainer
Professional athlete
Swimming instructor
The job outlook for sports-related occupations seems positive; the employment rate for most jobs in this field is expected to grow faster than average. If you’re passionate about sports and fitness, add the following skills to your resume to maximize your chances of getting noticed:
Coaching
Motivation
Adaptability
Exercise program development
Injury prevention and management
#6. Public Service and Emergency Response Jobs
Public service and emergency response jobs are AI-proof because they involve unpredictable situations that require direct contact with people and quick, ethical decision-making.
Examples of AI-resistant professions in public service and emergency response include the following:
Lifeguard
Firefighter
Police officer
Probation officer
Correctional officer
Border patrol agent
Criminal investigator
Animal control officer
Emergency medical technician
Although the job outlook for these occupations varies widely depending on the job title, it’s worth noting that, besides being AI-proof, these jobs are also generally resistant to recession.
If you’re looking to work in public service and emergency response, your resume should emphasize the following soft skills:
Leadership
Adaptability
Accountability
Conflict resolution
Stress management
#7. Creative Jobs
Creative jobs rely on imagination and craftsmanship, which AI doesn’t possess. While it can produce digital art, music, and text, creative human skills vs. AI-generated content don’t compare in terms of emotional depth and originality. The use of AI in art generation remains a controversial topic, and it’s unlikely that AI will replace creative jobs anytime soon.
Here are some AI-resistant jobs that need creativity:
Actor
Florist
Dancer
Sculptor
Puppeteer
Art director
Film director
Glassblower
Face painter
Choreographer
Interior designer
Jewelry designer
Fashion designer
Cinematographer
When writing a resume for an art-related job, make sure to accentuate AI-proof skills, such as:
Improvisation
Hand-drawing
Creative writing
Original content creation
#8. Legal Jobs
Legal jobs require ethical judgment, human interaction, and strategic reasoning, which makes law a great choice if you’re looking to build a career that is safe from automation and AI.
Below are some legal jobs AI can’t do:
Judge
Mediator
Arbitrator
Legal advisor
Lawyer/attorney
Court interpreter
Legal consultant
The employment rate for lawyers is expected to increase by 5% from 2023 to 2033. The overall employment in legal occupations will likely grow as fast as the average for all other professions.
Some skills you could accentuate to ensure your law resume is nothing short of perfect include:
Ethics
Mediation
Persuasion
Negotiation
Public speaking
#9. Tech Jobs
While AI can assist tech professionals with coding, bug detection, and other tasks, it isn’t likely to fully replace tech jobs. This is primarily because these occupations involve innovation, decision-making, and collaboration, among other skills and abilities that AI doesn’t offer.
A few examples of tech jobs that AI won’t replace include:
Data analyst
Data scientist
Software developer
Cybersecurity analyst
Cybersecurity engineer
Machine learning engineer
From 2023 to 2033, the employment rate in tech is expected to grow significantly faster compared to other industries. If you’re dreaming of landing a job in this sector, remember to list both hard skills and soft skills in your technical resume. Some of these may include:
Collaboration
Critical thinking
Problem-solving
Programming languages
#10. Mental Health and Social Service Jobs
Mental health and social services can never be replaced by AI, as jobs in this sector heavily rely on human interaction, emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, and cultural awareness.
There are plenty of opportunities to build an automation-proof career in mental health and social services, and employment in this sector is projected to increase faster than the average for all occupations over the next decade.
Here are some jobs that AI won’t replace that you might want to consider if you’re drawn to this field:
Art therapist
Psychologist
Social worker
Psychotherapist
School counselor
Child welfare worker
Mental health counselor
Substance abuse counselor
All of these occupations require strong interpersonal skills, so make sure to list any of the following in your resume:
Empathy
Patience
Active listening
Communication
Conflict resolution
#11. Other AI-Resistant Professions
Other jobs that AI won’t replace soon (or ever!) include:
CEO
Cook
Priest
Baker
Barista
Curator
Biologist
Diplomat
Librarian
Politician
Historian
Mortician
Bartender
Tour guide
Sommelier
Beekeeper
Park ranger
Archaeologist
Personal chef
Security guard
Flight attendant
Project manager
Wedding planner
Event coordinator
Catering assistant
Research scientist
Animal behaviorist
Community organizer
Human resources manager
Now that you know what jobs AI won’t replace anytime soon, let’s see how you can build a future- and automation-proof career.
How to Future-Proof Your Career: 4 Powerful Tips
Here are some practical tips to help you future-proof your career:
Stay open to change. As AI and technology continue to evolve, flexibility becomes increasingly critical to future-proofing your career. Willingness to adapt to change and embrace new opportunities can help you become more resilient and attractive to employers.
Develop your soft skills. AI can’t replace soft skills, which is why developing them can help you future-proof your career. Most importantly, these skills are transferable, meaning they can be applied across different industries. As such, they are especially useful if you’re planning to change careers and land a job that AI won’t replace.
Embrace continuous learning. Making the effort to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and tools can help you stay one step ahead and remain relevant in the ever-changing job market.
Build a strong personal brand. Creating a strong, consistent personal brand across your portfolio, LinkedIn, and other online platforms can help you showcase your professional strengths, attract new opportunities, and stand out from the competition. Though anyone can benefit from personal branding, it is especially important in creative fields.
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Create a winning document in minutes with our resume builder!Closing Thoughts
Although the thought of being replaced by artificial intelligence can be unsettling for many professionals, the reality is that there are numerous jobs that are unlikely to be significantly affected by it. Ultimately, the best careers for the future are those that rely on uniquely human qualities and skills, such as empathy, innovation, and collaboration.
However, whether your job is considered AI-resistant or not, it’s crucial to stay open to change and embrace technological developments in your field. This way, you can remain competitive, evolve with the industry, and turn AI into a tool that supports your professional journey rather than a threat.
Jobs That AI Won’t Replace FAQ
#1. What jobs are at risk from AI?
Jobs that are at risk from AI typically involve routine, monotonous tasks that can be easily automated. Some examples of jobs that AI would replace easily include data entry clerk, archivist, and bookkeeper.
#2. Will AI replace creative jobs?
AI isn’t likely to fully replace creative jobs, but it can assist with them. Artificial intelligence lacks the originality, authenticity, and emotional depth that human creatives can offer. However, while AI won’t replace creative jobs that involve working with hands, it may benefit those who do computer-based creative work (e.g., writing, digital art, graphic design, etc.).
#3. Can AI write my resume for me?
Yes, AI can write your resume for you. However, it’s better to use it as an assistant to ensure your document still sounds like you. At Resume.co, we offer a variety of resources to supercharge your job hunt, including a resume builder with an integrated AI writing assistant and hundreds of resume examples to help you get inspired.
