Jobs most at risk from AI

A list of the jobs and role types most at risk from AI replacing/disrupting them, and how to protect yourself if possible

Jobs at most risk of replacement/augmentation

High-Risk Jobs (Where AI Can Replace Most Tasks)

These roles involve routine, repetitive, data-based, or structured tasks, areas where AI and automation excel.

Office, Admin & Data Processing

Data entry clerks – AI excels at extracting and inputting information.
Administrative assistants / office support – Scheduling, email management, and basic tasks increasingly automated.
Payroll, billing & records processing – Software automation replaces manual workflow.
New accounts clerks / brokerage clerks / statistical assistants – Structured financial tasks automated.

Sales, Customer Service & Communication

Telemarketers / customer service reps – Chatbots and voice AI can handle scripted interactions.
Retail cashiers / counter clerks – Self-checkout and AI-driven transactions reduce need for staff.
Travel agents / ticket agents – AI booking platforms automate planning and reservations.
Sales representatives of services / advertising sales agents – Automated lead-generation & sales AI tools reduce routine selling tasks.

Content & Information Roles

Writers, editors, proofreaders, technical writers, news analysts / journalists – AI can generate and edit text across many formats.
Interpreters and translators – Machine translation is rapidly improving.

Other Repetitive or Rule-Based Jobs

Bank tellers and paralegals (document review) – Digital tools handle cash services and legal document scanning.
Manufacturing assembly & warehouse roles – Robotics and AI logistics systems reduce manual tasks.

Mid-Risk Jobs (AI Augments or Reshapes Work)

AI won’t necessarily replace these jobs entirely but is already changing how they operate — reducing some tasks and increasing demand for new skills:

Bookkeepers and basic accountants – Automates many functions but strategic financial planning still needs humans.
Customer service managers and HR professionals – AI helps workflow and screening but leadership and problem-solving remain human tasks.
Some IT support roles (tier-1 help desk, routine system monitoring) – Can be largely automated; complex problem-solving stays human-led.
Market research analysts & management analysts – AI handles data crunching, but interpretation and strategy are still needed.

Lower-Risk Jobs (Harder for AI to Replace)

These roles require complex judgement, emotional intelligence, manual dexterity, or unpredictable environments — areas where AI currently struggles:

Healthcare practitioners, nurses, therapists – Human empathy and nuanced medical decision-making.
Skilled trades (plumbers, electricians, technicians) – Physical skills and on-site judgment.
Creative professionals (directors, strategists) – Original thinking and nuanced creativity.
Roles requiring deep interpersonal skills (social workers, teachers) – Complex human interaction.

Key Patterns in AI Risk

Most at risk: jobs with repetitive, structured, and predictable tasks.

Not just low-skill jobs: Research shows even some high-skill roles that involve pattern recognition or analysis (e.g., writers, financial analysis) face pressure.

AI is transforming work: Many roles will be reshaped rather than eliminated — requiring workers to manage AI tools, interpret outputs, and focus on complex human judgment.

What should you do?

AI is accelerating automation in many jobs, especially those involving routine data work, standardized processes, or scripted interactions. At the same time, roles built around human creativity, complex decision-making, interpersonal skills, and physical dexterity are currently more resilient, though they might evolve with AI augmentation over time.

If you are in one of the at risk roles, potentially have a look at diversifying your skill set, can you do a course in AI or automation, or learn how to utilise it to speed up your work and add value?

Someone who is experienced in a certain role and has the knowledge to utilise these new and emerging trends and technology is always going to be in high demand, because this new technology is going to become more and more part of everyday life...

Some cases where I've used it before

I've used and developed custom AI/automation in a number of roles, some use cases for what you can do.

Remembering previously imported rows and processing accordingly in .NET applications for things like bank transactions and patient imports.
Using Chat GPT and Google Translate speeding up content generation/translation.
Generating logos
Automating work flows using Power Automate/Power Apps
Writing SQL Scripts to build select/update/insert statements for cross database updates.