Ten most risky 'AI exposed jobs' listed and those ONLY humans can do - for the moment

One in ten graduates have already changed their career plans over fears that artificial intelligence (AI) will upend their job prospects . University leavers hoping to enter fields such as graphic design, coding, film and art are particularly concerned about the impact of AI, with many fearing the rapidly developing technology could render their jobs obsolete.

These anxieties come as Britain’s labour market continues to cool, with companies slashing hiring and ramping up lay-offs in response to the Chancellor’s National Insurance hike and a rise in the minimum wage. According to a survey of 4,072 people by university and career advisers Prospects, 10 percent said they had changed their career plans because of AI, a figure that rises to 11 percent among graduates.

The main reason given was concern that their chosen jobs could become obsolete. Opportunities in the creative industries were singled out as being particularly at risk from AI’s rapid advancement.

Chris Rea from Prospects said that while many graduates are steering away from certain careers due to AI, others are looking to new industries because of the opportunities the technology presents.

Jeremy Swan, from the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, said technological change is putting pressure on graduates to look for jobs where they cannot easily be replaced by AI. He added: “I think it’s about re-framing people’s thinking, so that they can see there are opportunities out there that look slightly different than what they’re used to.” Mr Swan said AI has left many students and graduates feeling “really uncertain about where they stand”.

Figures from job search platform Adzuna show entry-level vacancies have dropped by 32 percent since Chat GPT launched in November 2022. Mr Swan added: “There’s a lot of uncertainty that’s come off the back of AI, people worrying how it’s going to affect their chosen career paths, and we would just say this is where decent career support matters more than ever.”

Jobs least exposed to AI:Logging equipment operatorsMotorboat operatorsOrderliesFloor sanders and finishersPile driver operatorsRail-track laying and maintenance equipmentFoundry moulders and coremakersWater treatment plant and system operatorsBridge and lock tenders

Dredge operators

Jobs most exposed to AI:Interpreters and translatorsHistoriansPassenger attendantsSales representatives of servicesWriters and authorsCustomer service representativesCNC tool programmersTelephone operatorsTicket agents and travel clerks

Broadcast announcers and radio DJs

LinkedIn data shows hiring in the UK fell by 6.7 percent in June compared to May, after a 3.9 percent rise the previous month. Official figures also revealed unemployment rose to a four-year high of 4.7 percent in the three months to May.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey recently said bigger interest rate cuts may be needed if the jobs market slows further. City traders expect rates could be cut from 4.25 percent to 4 percent at Thursday’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

University leavers now face an increasingly tough labour market as employers cut back on graduate recruitment. Adzuna data shows graduate job listings plunged by nearly 23 percent in the year to April as rising taxes prompt businesses to scale back entry-level hiring.

Meanwhile, increases to the national living wage mean many graduate schemes now only offer salaries in line with minimum wage, which stands at £12.21 per hour or £25,500 a year for full-time workers.

Major employer KPMG has cut its recruitment scheme, hiring just 942 graduates and school leavers last year compared with 1,399 in 2023. The company expects to hire around 1,000 this year.

With competition for entry-level positions fiercer than ever, many graduates are turning to AI for help with job applications. The Prospects survey found that 43 percent had used AI to edit or draft a cover letter, while 26 percent had used it for answering questions on application forms. However, Mr Swan believes students may be under-reporting their use of AI.

He said students should make sure they use “these tools in an ethical way”, even if AI can help get them started on CVs or cover letters.