Up to 70% of UK jobs could be impacted by AI. For many, the question is no longer if, but how it will affect their role. But while some tasks can be automated or enhanced by AI, hands-on trades remain much harder to replace.

This data comes from a recent government analysis of the UK labour market. Alarmingly, half of those included in this overall figure are in roles where AI may be ‘more likely to perform tasks currently delivered by human labour.’

The emergence and growing adoption of AI undoubtedly mark one of the greatest shifts across the global workforce in a generation. While we may still be years away from understanding just how big its impact will be, there is an increasingly common question: ‘Is my job safe?’

The idea of a more hands-on career path, such as construction, is becoming a more appealing prospect as people search for roles with long-term resilience to the effects of AI.

Which jobs are most under threat from AI?

We could already be seeing early signs of recruitment slowing in roles most exposed to AI. A recent report published by London City Hall paints a condensed picture of how things are beginning to look across the UK’s job market.

Analysis in London’s workforce exposure to generative artificial intelligence report suggests that nearly 2.4million people (46%) in the capital are in occupations classified as ‘exposed’ to GenAI, placing it above the UK average of 38%.

Administrative and clerical roles are deemed most at risk. Many roles falling into the highest exposure category have repetitive, digital tasks which lend themselves to automation.

Other sectors that have a high crossover with current AI capabilities include data analysts, accountants, journalists, secretaries, insurance underwriters, and, surprisingly, customer service operatives.

What jobs are most resilient against AI?

Sectors with the lowest levels of exposure to AI naturally lean towards those where human decision-making is vital, as well as physical, hands-on professions like construction.

While AI can be of value in construction (think project management software, sourcing materials, drones, automated budgeting), the technology simply cannot replace the manual labour, real-time problem solving and human interactions that are all central to day-to-day life in the trades.

Combine this AI resilience with the demand for skilled workers in construction — driven by long-standing skills shortages and several major projects — and construction sits amongst the UK’s most future-proof career paths.

Unlike some of the other AI-resistant industries, such as legal, education and health, we already see construction stand out as a career path due to the accessibility of training, with qualifications obtainable in weeks and months rather than years. 

AI is creating demand for construction jobs 

While concerns and trepidations surrounding the tech are understandable, in construction, we’re seeing it drive demand with the increase in data centre development.

Construction research firm Barbour ABI has identified 171 data centre projects that have either started in the last year, or are due to start in the next five years, signaling lucrative ventures for the firms tasked with delivering these sites.

Rediscovering construction as a future-proof career

At Able Skills, we’re seeing a growing number of enquiries from people worried their jobs could be under threat. As Managing Director Matt Morgan explains, a new generation is being called to the tools:

“Whilst AI is being adopted at pace across multiple sectors, when it comes to construction, AI may be able to design the building, but it cannot pour the foundations, build the walls, erect a roof, or install the electrics and plumbing. A generation is rediscovering the most future-proof careers are in construction.”

Construction will continue to develop and embrace AI in an assistive capacity, but it’s unlikely we’ll see the technology replacing workers outright.  This, combined with accessible and flexible training, as well as huge demand for skilled workers, puts the industry in an appealing position when it comes to long-term prospects for an AI-resistant career.