Artificial Intelligence: Check if your job is safe from AI developments | Personal Finance | Finance

Is AI really coming for our jobs? Sure, some of them will become obsolete as technology advances, but the good news is that there will always be jobs that require a human touch. Taking the time to train for them now will future-proof your career.

Will artificial intelligence really take over?

Tech companies are going all out when it comes to talking about AI and releasing all sorts of apps and tools. The big giants are also under fire for buying up startups—as in the latest case of the Microsoft-Inflection competition.

There are certain industries that will benefit from AI, such as manufacturing and production. However, some jobs can only be done by humans and this has been proven by previous technological advances.

For example, clothes are still sewn by people, because joining pieces of fabric is too complicated for machines. And the modernization of some industries is urgently needed: AI-based agriculture significantly facilitates the management of soil quality, improving crop yields.

But there are certain jobs that will eventually change beyond recognition or become completely obsolete. Before you think that sounds bleak, take a look at these AI-proof jobs that are worth retraining for!

Hairdressers and beauticians

Hair will always grow and will always need trimming! Practical jobs that cannot be replaced by robots are a safe bet for anyone looking to future-proof their career.

Hairdressers can earn over £50,000 a year in high-end salons, and even more if they own the salon and rent out chairs to freelance hairdressers. Training takes a few years to learn the basics, and then you can go on to specialise (such as extensions or braids) to earn more money per client.

Beauticians are specialists who are qualified to perform more advanced cosmetic therapies and treatments, such as Botox, fillers and semi-permanent make-up. These treatments require significant training, but a good beautician can earn over £50,000 over a few years.

Tattoo artist

If you’re great at drawing and painting, tattooing could be your calling. Again, hands-on work, there may eventually be an AI-controlled tattoo robot, but most people are unlikely to trust anything that isn’t human.

Tattoo artists do not need any formal qualifications, but should undertake apprenticeships and training courses to enhance their knowledge. It is also important to be aware of health and safety training – including how to deal with people with anxiety!

Plumbers, Electricians, Builders

Contractors will be in high demand in the coming years if Labour’s housebuilding programme delivers on its promises. While AI can help engineers with complex building plans and equations, the actual construction is still practical.

Taking up an apprenticeship now means you will gain the qualifications required by the current government, putting you in a good position to benefit from the huge boom predicted in housebuilding and other construction.

Security guards

Intelligent CCTV monitoring is all well and good, but it still needs a human to interact with it when something triggers an alarm. What’s more, humans will always need to operate doors at nightclubs and oversee large sporting and music events in arenas and stadiums.

You can get your SIA license in a matter of months, so if you start training this summer, you’ll be able to adjust your hours to accommodate the increased traffic when students return to campus in the fall.

Starting salaries are around £24,000, with significant increases for night shifts. If you train for further specialisms, such as personal protection duties, you can earn up to £500 a day or more for high-risk or high-profile roles.

Facility management

People still want – and always will want – live performances. That means the need for big venues, small theatres and all the places in between will always exist. And those places need staff to run them!

Event management does not require formal qualifications, but marketing and communications qualifications, as well as event management courses, can be helpful in launching a career in the industry.

The good news is that performing artists, musicians, actors, and dancers will also be in high demand for decades (and hopefully centuries) to come. While generative AI can do a lot, it can’t replicate the magic of live performance. It can be used to enhance it, but the human element will always be needed.

Make more money on the side

If you’re not looking to retrain for a career in AI but just need some extra cash for now, there are plenty of things you can do as a side hustle this summer.

From dog walking to housekeeping, from restoring antique furniture to selling hair, there are lots of weird and wonderful ways to make money, and AI won’t be taking them over anytime soon!