As artificial intelligence and outsourcing continue to reshape the global workforce, employers and employees face a critical question about the future of work: Which jobs are secure, and which are at risk?
While some roles are insulated by regulation, trust, or physical complexity, others—particularly what Andrew Gadomski of Aspen Analytics calls “knowledge work”—are far more vulnerable to automation.
The Secure Sector: Roles Built on Trust, Regulation, and Physicality
Certain professions remain difficult for AI to replicate because they rely on distinctly human qualities. Marc Cenedella, founder of Ladders, Inc., notes that the jobs least likely to be automated are those “that require judgment or taste,” along with empathy and physical skill.
Physical trades and emergency services are prime examples. “I always tell my daughter, you can always be a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, you can always be a firefighter,” Gadomski says. These roles demand dexterity, rapid decision-making, and physical exertion—areas where robotics still struggle with cost and reliability. Cenedella adds that tasks like “fixing your sink, making the right type of omelet or building a bus shelter” will remain human-centric. While AI may augment these jobs—for instance, a firefighter’s helmet with thermal vision—it is not poised to replace the human element.
Healthcare and social services are similarly protected. “Jobs that require people to impart knowledge, encouragement and wisdom are not yet able to be replaced by AI,” says Cenedella, citing therapists, doctors, coaches, and teachers. In medicine, regulatory and financial barriers also play a role. Gadomski explains that insurance companies are more comfortable covering procedures performed by human surgeons than by robotic systems, making trust and liability key factors in keeping humans in the operating room.
The legal field offers another shield: regulation. While AI may automate tasks for paralegals, licensed attorneys remain essential. “In order for you to walk into a courtroom… you need to be an attorney,” Gadomski states, highlighting how professional licensing preserves the role.
The At-Risk Sector: Knowledge Work Without Physical Anchors
Conversely, jobs centered on routine, repetitive knowledge work are highly susceptible to automation. “If something can get done instantaneously or continuously, and it doesn’t involve physical exertion, those jobs are really under scrutiny,” Gadomski says.
This category includes roles in transcription, scheduling, and even some aspects of recruiting. AI-powered captioning or virtual avatars can reduce the need for live note-takers and interpreters. In recruiting, Gadomski clarifies that the profession isn’t disappearing because of AI directly, but because AI-driven efficiency means companies have fewer roles to fill, thus decreasing the demand for recruiters.
The Gray Area: How Some Jobs Will Evolve, Not Disappear
Many professions will not vanish but will instead transform, with AI becoming a partner rather than a replacement. Georgi Enthoven, host of the “Work That’s Worth It” podcast, observes, “Workers who focus their careers on solving real-world problems… aren’t competing against AI — they’re partnering with it.”
Radiology technicians, for example, are still needed for patient interaction, but AI can streamline diagnostics, potentially reducing the total number of technicians required. Similarly, truck driving is secure only until autonomous fleets become demonstrably safer and more cost-effective than human drivers. “When that starts to really happen, those jobs become an endangered work species,” Gadomski warns.
Implications for the Future Workforce
Ultimately, AI is not replacing all workers but is redefining which skills are essential. Careers demanding empathy, accountability, and a physical human presence—such as law, medicine, public safety, and skilled trades—appear to be the safest bets.
For employers, the key is strategic planning. “You need to start categorizing several years from now, how you’re investing in a workforce,” Gadomski advises. Companies must determine which roles require a human touch and which can be transitioned to technology, as the pace of innovation will only accelerate.
