Is AI really coming for our jobs? There are definitely some which will become obsolete as technology improves, but the good news is there will always be jobs that need a human touch. If you take time to train for them now, you’ll be futureproofing your career.
Will AI Really Take Over?
Tech companies are going all out when it comes to talking about AI and releasing all kinds of apps and tools. The big giants are under fire for snapping up startups, too – such as the latest competitions enquiry between Microsoft and Inflection.
There are some industries which will benefit from AI, such as manufacturing and production. However, some jobs can only be done by people and this has been proven with previous technological advances.
For example, clothes are still sewn by people, as putting together fabric pieces is too complex for machinery. And modernisation of some industries is sorely needed: agriculture using AI tools makes it much easier to manage soil quality, improving crop yields.
But there are some jobs which will eventually change beyond recognition or become obsolete altogether. Before you think this sounds bleak, have a look at these AI-proof jobs to consider retraining for!
Hairdressers and Beauty Therapists
Hair will always grow, and always need cutting! Hands-on jobs that can’t be replaced by robots are a safe bet for anyone wanting to future-proof their career.
Hairdressers can earn upwards of £50,000 a year in high-end salons, and more if they own a salon and rent chairs to freelance hairdressers, too. Training takes a few years to learn the basics, and then you can continue to specialise (such as in extensions or braids) to earn more money per customer.
Aestheticians are specialists who are qualified to handle more advanced beauty therapies and treatments, such as botox and fillers and semi-permanent makeup. These treatments take significant training, but a good aesthetician can earn over £50,000 within a few years.
Tattoo Artist
If you’re great at drawing and painting, tattooing could be your calling. Once more a hands- on job, there might eventually be an AI-controlled tattoo robot but most people are unlikely to put their trust into something that isn’t human.
Tattoo artists don’t need any formal qualifications but should take apprenticeships and training courses to improve their knowledge. It’s important to be aware of health and safety training, too – including how to handle people with anxiety!
Plumbers, Electricians, Builders
Contractors will be in huge demand in the coming years if Labour’s house building programme lives up to its promise. While AI can help engineers with complex building plans and equations, the actual build is still hands-on.
Taking an apprenticeship now will mean you’ll qualify within this current Government, so you can take advantage of the huge predicted boom in house building and other construction.
Security Staff
Smart CCTV is all very well, but it still needs a human to interact with it when something sets off an alert. More than that, people will always be required to man the doors of nightclubs and steward huge sporting and music events at arenas and stadiums.
You can take your SIA licence in a couple of months, so if you start training this summer you could pick up shifts for the busy times when students go back to university in the autumn.
Starting salaries are around £24,000 going up significantly for night shift work. If you train in further specialities, such as personal protection duties, you could earn up to £500 or more a day for high-risk or high-profile individuals.
Venue Management
People still crave – and will always want – live performance. That means the need for large venues, small theatres, and all the places in-between will always exist. And those places need staff to manage them!
Events management doesn’t require formal qualifications, but marketing and communications qualifications, as well as event management courses, can be beneficial to getting your foot in the door.
The good news here too is that performance artists, musicians, actors, and dancers will also be in high demand for decades (hopefully centuries) to come. While generative AI can do a lot, it can’t replicate the magic of live performance. It might be used to enhance it, but the human touch will always be needed.
Make More Money on the Side
If you’re not looking to retrain to switch to an AI-proof career, but need some extra cash for now, there are still plenty of things you can do as an extra job this summer.
From dog walking to house sitting, flipping vintage furniture to selling your hair, there are lots of weird and wonderful ways to make extra cash on the side, which AI won’t be taking over any time soon!
