While some jobs are at risk of full AI takeover, many others are set to grow in value precisely because of AI. As a recruiter, I think it’s important to balance the fear with the opportunity. Here are the roles that I feel will remain resilient and even thrive well into the future.
1. Healthcare & Social Care Professionals
AI can help diagnose illness or manage paperwork, but human empathy, bedside manner, and trust are irreplaceable. With an ageing population, demand for nurses, carers, therapists, and doctors will only increase.
➡️ Recruiter’s take: Expect long-term stability and growth in this sector. Candidates who combine clinical expertise with digital fluency will be in highest demand.
2. Teachers, Trainers & Coaches
AI can deliver information, but it can’t inspire, motivate, or mentor in the same way a person can. The human connection in education and personal development is central.
➡️ Recruiter’s take: Roles in education, vocational training, and corporate learning will evolve but won’t disappear. Teachers who use AI tools to personalise learning will lead the way.
3. Skilled Trades & Hands-On Work
Electricians, plumbers, mechanics, builders, these are jobs that require practical expertise, adaptability, and physical presence. Robots might assist, but the complexity of real-world environments makes full automation highly unlikely.
➡️ Recruiter’s take: Skilled trades remain a safe career path. Upskilling in green tech (solar, EV charging, heat pumps) will add even more resilience.
4. Leadership & Strategy Roles
AI can process information, but it doesn’t have vision, intuition, or accountability. Senior leadership, project management, and strategic roles will always require human decision-making and relationship-building.
➡️ Recruiter’s take: Employers will place a premium on leaders who can combine data-driven insights with emotional intelligence.
5. Creative Professions
Yes, AI can generate content but true originality, brand storytelling, and cultural relevance still depend on human creativity. Designers, writers, marketers, and innovators who can harness AI as a tool (rather than fear it) will stand out.
➡️ Recruiter’s take: Creative careers are shifting, not shrinking. The differentiator will be authenticity and imagination.
6. Mental Health & Wellbeing Specialists
Technology can’t replicate the depth of human listening and empathy. With rising awareness of mental health, demand for counsellors, therapists, and wellbeing coaches will continue to grow.
➡️ Recruiter’s take: This sector is future-proof because it rests on trust, compassion, and shared human experience.
7. Emerging Green Jobs
The transition to net zero means millions of new jobs in renewable energy, sustainable construction, and environmental services. AI will support these roles, but the practical work of designing, installing, and maintaining green infrastructure requires people.
➡️ Recruiter’s take: Reskilling into green industries is one of the smartest career moves anyone can make right now.
AI may take away certain jobs, but it will also amplify the demand for human qualities; empathy, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership. These are the careers where people will continue to shine.
As recruiters, we’re not just matching skills to jobs anymore, we’re helping candidates future-proof their careers in a world where technology and humanity work side by side.
