The Future of Jobs: Which Careers Will Survive the AI Revolution?

The Future of Jobs: Which Careers Will Survive the AI Revolution?

Written by Massa Medi

There's no sugarcoating it: the job landscape is changing rapidly, and artificial intelligence (AI) is at the heart of this transformation. In this article, we’ll embark on a systematic journey — examining all jobs, one by one — and eliminating those that simply aren’t expected to last the next five years. This isn’t about scare tactics; it’s about facing reality and forming a plan that puts you ahead of the curve.

No More Ostrich Effect: Facing the AI Challenge Head-On

You might have heard of the "ostrich effect" — that tendency to bury our heads in the sand and hope danger blows over. But pretending AI won’t reshape our working lives won’t help anyone. After countless hours poring over research papers, articles, and expert discussions across the internet (including dives into the wild world of Twitter/X), it’s clear: Many jobs will be affected, some automated, and plenty eliminated.

The good news? If you stick with us to the end, you’ll leave with a clear, actionable plan to navigate this shift — plus, a dose of motivation.

Methodology: Sifting Through the Research

To start, rigorous methodology was key. Drawing on ONET (Occupation Information Network) — the gold standard database of job information used by researchers worldwide — I downloaded two key datasets: an "All Occupations" table and an "All Career Clusters" table. These provided the names, codes, and the broader context for each career (think: agriculture, food, architecture, construction, and more).

Instead of manually merging these datasets using Python, I leveraged ChatGPT’s new data-processing powers. By simply instructing ChatGPT to combine the 'code' and 'onet SOC code' columns, the merge was done swiftly. It’s a meta moment: using AI to analyze jobs under threat from AI — and yes, it’s not lost on me that my own role is fair game!

Ultimately, this process produced a robust list, marrying each occupation with its relevant cluster, laying the foundation for our eliminations.

Digging into the Research: What Will Technology Do to Jobs?

Many reports sidestep the hard questions: Which jobs are truly at risk? Too often, the research is vague, scattered, or lacks concrete justifications. But two key sources stood out for their rigor:

  1. World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs 2023 Report: Analyzes the macro trends in the global labor market and highlights both job creators and job displacers in response to technology.
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF), “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work”: Offers a detailed framework based on AI exposure (how much an occupation’s tasks can be automated) and complementarity (how much a human’s unique touch is still required).

World Economic Forum’s Insights

The WEF’s reports are packed with colorful tables showing which roles will grow or shrink. For example:

Another startling fact: The WEF projects a net reduction of 14 million jobs globally (about 2% of total employment) by 2027 due to these forces of technological adoption.

In examining their projected churn — that is, roles with the most hiring and firing — biggest declines are found in careers involving interactions and record-keeping: administrative clerks, bank tellers, postal workers, and similar jobs.

Protective Factors

Not all is doom and gloom! The WEF points out that jobs relating to digital trade, energy transition, advanced technology, green jobs, education, agriculture, and even repair and factory work are proving resilient. Social roles — healthcare, teaching, caregiving — are even expected to surge.

IMF’s AI Exposure and Complementarity Framework

The IMF’s approach differs: It looks at jobs based on two variables:

For example, judges have high AI exposure (text analysis), but high complementarity (society isn’t ready for robot judges!), so AI will assist, not replace, them. In contrast, clerical workers with heavy AI exposure and little complementarity are most at risk.

The result? Every job falls somewhere along the spectrum: high-exposure/high-complementarity (like judges — augmented by AI), high-exposure/low-complementarity (clerical and some service roles — at risk), and low-exposure (mostly untouched, for now).

Parsing these frameworks (from sometimes frustratingly vague graphs), I conservatively eliminated only those roles showing clear, rapid declines in job postings. This included most clerks (bookkeeping, accounting, mail, payroll, etc.), many finance and insurance positions, certain social services, and particularly hard-hit roles in marketing and sales (advertising agents, cashiers, telemarketers, retail sales associates, and more).

Summary: The Jobs Hit Hardest and Those That Will Thrive

Here’s where things landed:

Of the 1,012 jobs analyzed, around 8% are at high risk of significant decline by 2027.

If you want to dive deeper, all referenced tables and lists can be found in the supplementary document (link in description).

What If My Job Is on the Chopping Block?

If you saw your job on the at-risk list and your heart skipped a beat, you’re not alone. But panic isn’t the path forward. Instead, here are two strategic actions to future-proof your career:

1. Adapt and Thrive Within Your Current Role

Love your job and can’t imagine doing anything else, but still worried? Good news: With the right tweaks, you can reposition your role to become AI-proof (or at least AI-resistant!). Embracing AI and learning how to use new technologies will make you more productive, more creative, more employable, and open new doors — even within your existing profession.

For instance, artists might explore AI-powered tools like DALL·E or Midjourney to supercharge their creativity, or experiment with AI-generated video tools like Sora. Security professionals might lean into robotics or AI-enhanced surveillance, moving from guard duty to designing or managing smarter security systems.

2. Pivot Towards a New, Resilient Career Path

If your current job feels "just okay" and not a lifelong calling, now might be the best time to consider a bigger leap! Reflect on your real passions and ambitions, even if you once thought it was "too late" or "too complex." AI disruption is making career reinvention more accessible than ever.

Start by browsing job postings for roles that excite you. Identify the required qualifications and skills you might lack, then craft a concrete, step-by-step plan to close those gaps. Remember, you don’t necessarily need another college degree: modern online learning options — many powered by AI — are breaking down old barriers.

Homework: Reach out in your network or on LinkedIn, and cold-message at least ten professionals who currently hold your dream job. Ask what their day-to-day is like, how they got there, and how AI is impacting their work. You'll learn more in a week of real conversations than in months of guesswork.

Sharpening Your Edge: Embracing Self-Study and Lifelong Learning

The number-one skill for surviving — and thriving — in the age of AI is the ability to self-study and adapt. Stay informed about technological changes. Experiment with new tools as they emerge. If you sense your field is under threat, having a practice of lifelong learning ensures you can pivot smoothly and confidently.

Even if you don’t know exactly what you want to do yet, building the muscle of independent learning and tech curiosity will serve you again and again across your career adventure.

The Big Takeaway

Change is coming — fast, and with sometimes uncomfortable consequences. The worst thing you can do is ignore it. The best thing? Face it, educate yourself, and become one of the people who write the next chapter.

Whether that means tweaking your current role, pivoting into a future-proof path, or simply doubling down on self-study and professional networking, the opportunity to thrive isn’t gone — it just looks different than before.

Thank you for reading! If you’re hungry for more, join the discussion in the comments or check out our upcoming live stream for even deeper dives.