Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global workforce, creating a sharp divide between careers facing obsolescence and those that remain secure. A comprehensive 2025 study from Microsoft, analyzing data from over 200,000 users, pinpoints which jobs are most susceptible to the AI revolution and which are likely to withstand the changes for now.
Knowledge-based roles face disruption
The findings indicate that jobs centered on communication, analysis, and content generation are at the highest risk. These roles align with the capabilities of modern AI, such as large language models. The research highlights that positions involving predictable, rule-based steps or repetitive information exchange are particularly exposed to automation. Companies are already reacting with hiring freezes and layoffs in these areas.
Jobs most vulnerable to AI:
Communication and Media:
- Interpreters and Translators
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio DJs
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
- Public Relations Specialists
Content and Writing:
- Writers and Authors
- Technical Writers
- Proofreaders and Copy Markers
- Editors
Customer Service and Sales:
- Customer Service Representatives
- Sales Representatives of Services
- Telemarketers
- Advertising Sales Agents
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Administrative and Support:
- Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
- Telephone Operators
- Brokerage Clerks
- New Accounts Clerks
- Counter and Rental Clerks
- Switchboard Operators
Research and Analysis:
- Historians
- Political Scientists
- Mathematicians
- Data Scientists
- Market Research Analysts
- Statistical Assistants
- Management Analysts
- Geographers
- Archivists
Education and Training:
- Business Teachers (Postsecondary)
- Economics Teachers (Postsecondary)
- Library Science Teachers (Postsecondary)
- Farm and Home Management Educators
Technical and Specialized:
- CNC Tool Programmers
- Web Developers
- Personal Financial Advisors
- Public Safety Telecommunicators
Service and Hospitality:
- Passenger Attendants
- Concierges
- Hosts and Hostesses
- Demonstrators and Product Promoters
- Models
Manual and human-centric work shows resilience
In contrast, jobs demanding physical skill, on-the-spot problem-solving, and direct human engagement show strong resistance to AI replacement. These fields require abilities that current technology cannot yet effectively mirror. The unpredictable nature of real-world settings and the need for social intelligence create a barrier against automation in these sectors.
Jobs Most Resistant to AI:
Heavy Equipment and Construction:
- Dredge Operators
- Pile Driver Operators
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Logging Equipment Operators
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Roofers
- Helpers–Roofers
Industrial Operations:
- Water Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
- Plant and System Operators (All Other)
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators
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Healthcare Support:
- Orderlies
- Surgical Assistants
- Massage Therapists
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
- Medical Equipment Preparers
- Nursing Assistants
- Phlebotomists
- Prosthodontists
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Maintenance and Service:
- Floor Sanders and Finishers
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
- Dishwashers
- Highway Maintenance Workers
- Tire Repairers and Changers
- Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
- Helpers–Painters, Plasterers
Transportation and Marine:
- Bridge and Lock Tenders
- Motorboat Operators
- Ship Engineers
Specialized Services:
- Roustabouts (Oil and Gas)
- Tire Builders
- Supervisors of Firefighters
- Helpers–Production Workers
- Embalmers
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
The Microsoft study suggests a spectrum of risk rather than outright job elimination, with many roles likely to integrate AI as a tool rather than be fully replaced. Experts advise workers in vulnerable fields to pursue new skills in areas like AI literacy and prompt engineering.
