For many years, learning how to code was considered one of the safest career bets for young people. However, the rapid emergence of AI may be turning that assumption on its head.
Careerminds, a global workforce solutions provider, recently surveyed 3,088 workers, asking how happy and secure they feel in their current careers.
Survey respondents were also asked to choose between two very different careers for their own children, and the results were quite eye-opening. Amid growing concerns about the potential for AI to replace certain jobs, 62% said that they would rather their child became an electrician than a software developer.
These findings suggest that perceptions of what constitutes a “safe” career may be changing rapidly. Highly digital work was previously considered to offer the strongest protection against technological disruption.
However, today it appears that workers are increasingly confident in careers that require physical work, human interactions, or skills that, at present, are difficult for robots or AI systems to replicate.
Oklahoma plumbers feel the most secure about the next decade
Oklahoma respondents were asked how secure they believe their career will be over the coming 10 years. They chose from four options: very secure, somewhat secure, somewhat insecure, or very insecure. The rankings below combine respondents who selected either very secure or somewhat secure.
1. Plumber
2. Veterinarian
3. Auto mechanic
4. Nurse
5. HVAC technician
6. Electrician
7. Dentist
8. Carpenter
9. Physical therapist
10. Paramedic
The results are notable because several of the careers associated with the greatest confidence over the next 10 years involve hands-on work. An AI system may be able to help diagnose a problem, provide instructions for fixing it, or even help prevent an issue from occurring. However, at present, it is much harder for a machine to crawl into an attic to repair an air-conditioning system, rewire a house, or care for a sick patient.
Infographic showing study results
HVAC technicians are the most satisfied and the most optimistic about AI
HVAC technicians stood out across several measures. When respondents were asked how satisfied they are with their current careers, HVAC technicians reported an average satisfaction score of 7.5 out of 10, the highest of any profession surveyed. They were followed by carpenters at 7.4 and nurses at 7.3.
Interestingly, HVAC technicians were also the profession most likely to believe that AI would improve their working lives. More than half (53%) said AI would make their work somewhat or much better over the next 10 years.
Across all other careers surveyed, 40% believed AI would improve their work, compared with 31% who thought it would make their work worse. Another 28% anticipated little or no meaningful difference.
Forget “learn to code.” Parents are choosing the electrician
One of the clearest indications of how perceptions of career security are shifting emerged when respondents were asked about the careers they would prefer for their own children.
Given concerns about jobs being replaced by artificial intelligence, 62% said that, if given the choice, they would prefer that their child became an electrician, compared with 38% who would opt for a software developer.
The findings reflect a clear shift in how future career risk is perceived. As AI changes the job market, work that must be performed physically, face-to-face, or on location may increasingly be viewed as offering an added layer of protection from technological disruption.
How much is an AI-proof career worth?
Careerminds also asked respondents whether job security had a financial value. Specifically, they were asked:
“How much of a pay cut would you accept if it could guarantee your job wouldn’t ever be replaced by AI?”
The survey found that 41% of respondents would accept a pay cut today in exchange for a guarantee that their job would never be replaced by AI. More than a quarter (26%) would accept a cut of at least 20%. That includes 17% of all respondents who said they would sacrifice at least 30% of their salary and 4% who would be willing to give up half.
When it comes to which professions would be most willing to take a pay cut, physical therapists topped the list, with over half (54%) saying they would accept some reduction in salary. They were followed by nurses at 51%, while around half of HVAC technicians, dentists, and electricians would also take a pay cut.
Auto mechanics are most likely to choose their career again
Careerminds also looked at career confidence another way, asking workers whether they would make the same career choice again if they were starting over.
Auto mechanics were among the most likely to say yes. Seventy-one percent said they would definitely or probably choose the same career again, putting them alongside carpenters, also at 71%. They were followed by nurses at 69%, dentists at 68%, and HVAC technicians at 68%.
At the other end of the scale, fewer than half of veterinarians said they would choose to enter the same profession again.
Workers feel for those on the other side of the AI divide
People working in relatively secure professions also appear conscious that others may not be as fortunate. More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) said they felt sorry for people working in careers that are at risk of being replaced by AI.
That divide could become increasingly important as automation continues to develop.
Finally, the survey asked respondents aged 55 and older across all professions whether they would accept early retirement now, if given the option, rather than continue working and risk being replaced by AI before reaching retirement age. Thirty-eight percent said they would choose to retire early and live off their pension rather than take that risk.
“For years, entering a white-collar profession was almost shorthand for future-proofing your career. AI is beginning to complicate that assumption,” says Amanda Augustine, Certified Professional Career Coach and resident career expert for Careerminds.
“What stands out to me is that the workers who feel most confident about the future tend to be those whose jobs rely heavily on physical skills, human care, or work that has to be performed in person. That doesn’t mean AI won’t play an important role in those professions. In fact, many of these workers believe AI will make their jobs better. The difference is that they are more likely to see AI as a tool that can support the work they do, rather than technology that could eliminate the need for their role altogether.”
“Perhaps the most eye-opening finding is what career paths people would choose for their own children. Nearly two-thirds would prefer their child to become an electrician rather than a software developer. That says a lot about how quickly our definition of a ‘safe’ career is evolving. It’s no longer enough to ask which jobs require the most technical knowledge. These days, people are also asking which skills are the most difficult to automate and where uniquely ‘human’ capabilities still matter most.”
Careerminds is a global workforce solutions provider specializing in outplacement, career transition, job architecture, and talent development. We combine modern technology with high-touch, one-to-one coaching to help organizations support employees through workforce change and growth. Our scalable delivery model enables consistent, personalized experiences across 80+ languages and major markets worldwide, offering a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to traditional firms. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Amanda Augustine is the resident career expert for Careerminds and its suite of brands: career.io, resume.io, Jobrapido, TopInterview, Resume.ai, and others. As a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), she has spent more than 20 years helping professionals improve their careers and land the right job sooner.
Methodology
This study is based on a Careerminds survey of 3,088 respondents recruited from a geographically representative online panel of double opt-in members. Participants were screened to confirm that they considered themselves happy and secure in their careers. The career-security ranking reflects the percentage within each profession who felt “very secure” or “somewhat secure” about their career over the next 10 years.
Data quality measures included digital fingerprinting, bot checks, geo-verification, and speeding detection, alongside individual review of responses for quality and contextual accuracy. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number and may not total 100%.
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