The AI era is here, and everyone’s wondering if some of our jobs are on the chopping block. In a world that’s been through one too many revolutions, let’s not panic. Think about the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century – some workers did lose their jobs due to the rise of mechanisation but there were jobs that remained resilient till this day, and there were also new jobs created. So fear not! In this article, from midwife to oncologist, you’ll find top 10 jobs that we predict will not only survive the AI revolution, but may see demand increase. We’ve also predicted the annual pay rise based on the year-on-year trends observed between June 2022 and June 2023.
Oncologist
Advertised vacancies: 41
Average advertised salary: £208,942
Projected annual pay rise: +7.4%
While a lot more cancers can be cured nowadays – thanks to medical breakthroughs, cancer is still a big deal and is definitely bad news. AI can assist in diagnosing and treating cancer patients, but it cannot replace the human touch and empathy required to address the emotional needs of patients during their cancer journey. Furthermore, AI cannot fully replace an oncologist at present, as it is not still capable of identifying certain lesions without flaws. There can be slight deviations among individuals’ organs that can only be spotted by trained eyes.
Orthodontist
Advertised vacancies: 238
Average advertised salary: £106,485
Orthodontists are dental specialists who are responsible for correcting dental and facial irregularities. While AI can improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment planning, it remains uncertain how it can perform the surgery without any help. Similar to the role of an oncologist, an orthodontist often relies on their experience to identify subtle nuances in each patient’s case. Communication and reassurance with patients are vital to succeed in this role as well, an area where AI is not engineered to excel.
Paediatrician
Average advertised salary: £103,351
Projected annual pay rise: 4.1%
Paediatricians monitor growth and development, diagnose and treat illnesses, and provide preventative healthcare advice to infants and children. Although AI can help with medical data analysis and diagnosis support, building trust with young patients can be time-consuming and challenging. Effective communication with both children and parents requires human qualities that AI cannot replicate.
Judge
Average advertised salary: £100,000+
The pros of using AI in the courtroom are that it can digest a large amount of data, look back at precedents in a short time and potentially eliminate unconscious bias. However, the accuracy and fairness of its judgment or prediction are highly dependent on the accuracy of the information provided. If the information is incomplete or inaccurate, AI wouldn’t be conscious of the caveats and would make judgements and sentences that might be unfair to the defendant or the plaintiff. In the same situation, a human judge can weigh the incommensurables, exercise compassion, and assess the credibility of the witnesses to make the best decision.
Ultimately, it boils down to the question: Do you really want a robot engineered by a certain group of unknown people to determine whether you are guilty or not?
Politician
Average advertised salary: £86,584 (*salary for MP)
Politicians are responsible for representing the interests of the people and sometimes their constituents, shaping public policies, and making legislative decisions. In a human-led world, it doesn’t make sense to delegate this role to other “species”.
While AI can analyse vast amounts of data and propose potential legislation, the core of politics lies within the understanding of the needs of the people. It would be challenging for AI to have that sort of human charisma and empathy to connect with the public, empathise with their concerns, and build consensus.
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator
Average advertised salary: £85,800
Paving, surfacing, and tampering equipment operators manage heavy machinery used in road construction and maintenance. While autonomous vehicles and AI-controlled equipment are emerging, human operators are still essential to guarantee precision and avoid accidents. Their ability to make real-time decisions based on situational awareness remains challenging for AI to match.
CEO
Advertised vacancies: 731
Average advertised salary: £81,205
CEOs are top-level executives responsible for steering a company’s overall strategy, vision, and decision-making. While AI excels at providing accurate data-driven insights and identifying trends in a short turnaround time, an outstanding CEOs requires much more than that. The role demands leadership skills, personal charisma, and emotional intelligence to succeed in connecting with employees on a deeper level and managing diverse teams. In uncertain times, a human CEO can also step in to navigate through any crisis and make strategic choices that involve ethical considerations.
AI or machine learning engineer
Advertised vacancies: 251
Average advertised salary: £76,010
Projected annual pay rise: +1.4%
AI or machine learning engineers will not be replaced by its creation, as their expertise is essential in designing, developing, and refining AI algorithms. While AI can automate some aspects of AI development, it still requires human creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills to keep pushing the boundaries and troubleshoot any problems.
Surgeon
Advertised vacancies:
Average advertised salary: £58,366
Projected annual pay rise: +8.7%
Surgeons are highly-skilled medical doctors who perform intricate procedures to treat various medical conditions. AI-assisted surgery is advancing, but the complexity and unpredictability of human anatomy and emergencies require the expertise of a trained surgeon. Furthermore, the emotional support provided by surgeons to patients and their families during critical times is another part that AI can’t replace.
Midwife
Advertised vacancies: 371
Average advertised salary: Up to £26,78/hour
Projected annual pay rise: +20.5%
Childbirth is often cited as one of the most defining moments in life, and midwives offer more than just medical assistance during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care. They provide personalised emotional support for the mother and also the family throughout the entire pregnancy and labour journey. The bond between a midwife and the mother is built on a foundation of trust, empathy, and understanding, and this level of personalised attention and human connection cannot be achieved by AI.
Some of the roles above do not require a university degree. It’s definitely worth considering them during your career planning and job search at Adzuna.
Read more: Top 4 free AI tools to use for job search