Blue-collar jobs are gaining popularity as AI threatens office work

Summary

Geoffrey Hinton’s message on a recent podcast about artificial intelligence was simple: “Train to be a plumber.”Hinton, a Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist often called “the Godfather of AI,” said in June what people have now been saying for years: Jobs that include manual labor and expertise are the least vulnerable to modern technology than some other career paths, many of which have generally been considered more respected and more lucrative. “I think plumbers are less at risk,” Hinton said. “Someone like a legal assistant, a paralegal, they’re not going to be needed for very long.”Even with the dramatic rise of AI and the evolution of advanced robotics, technologists and tradespeople are touting skilled trades as offering more long-term job security for workers who can do what computers can’t.Last month, Microsoft revealed a list of jobs that could be endangered as Al advances.Occupations atop the list were interpreters, historians, customer service and sales representatives, and writers. Some roles considered safe included manual jobs like roofers and rail and dredge operators, hazardous material removal workers and painters. In the health care industry, phlebotomists and nursing assistants were also considered safe.As AI advances, many manual labor jobs figure to be around for the long haul. “Automation is a low threat to these jobs because it involves someone manually installing equipment, and many of those who do are getting close to retirement,” said Tony Spagnoli, the director of testing and education for North American Technician Excellence, the country’s largest nonprofit organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. “AI can’t replace parts or make improvisational decisions.”The Bureau of Labor Statistics agrees. It projects that openings for jobs in a variety of trades will grow in the coming years — particularly notable as entry-level job openings for college graduates stagnate. There is no shortage of hype...