AI Proof Degrees for AI Proof Careers
What jobs are safe from AI and what degrees do you need to get them?
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Artificial intelligence is quickly changing the employment landscape, taking over many tasks previously done by people. But there are many jobs that AI can’t replace. Creativity, empathy and problem-solving are distinctly human skills that are not easily replicated by technology. AI proof jobs will rely on qualities like these.
As you earn your college degree and prepare for your future career, it is important to hone these skills while also being adaptable to technological advancement. At Pacific University, students are prepared for the unpredictability of future employment trends through a comprehensive liberal arts education that prioritizes critical thinking, creative problem-solving, empathetic communication and ethical care alongside technical skills. As the top private research university in the Northwest, Pacific University provides students with opportunities to be involved in research that will shape the future and their future careers. A Pacific education prepares you to pursue your purpose by laying the foundation for long-lasting and flexible careers that are crucial in the age of AI.
How AI is Changing the Job Market
Innovation is always changing the job market. As new technologies develop, they take over jobs previously done by humans while also creating new jobs for people to manage these emerging technologies. For instance, during the Industrial Revolution, machines replaced many of the jobs previously done by human workers while, in response, these workers developed skills for new types of jobs managing the machines. A similar trend is playing out now as industries adapt to AI, adopting usage while also needing human workers to manage and implement that usage. AI excels at pattern recognition, repetition and organizing large amounts of data. But even in these areas it still needs to be managed and directed by human workers.
Even as they enhance productivity, these technological innovations can also be immensely disruptive. Reports show job loss due to AI in some industries, particularly in early career positions, which can be especially susceptible to replacement by new technologies. As industries adapt to AI, entry level jobs that are focused on repetitive tasks may be replaced by the new technology. Many entry level jobs are changing to become more sophisticated, relying more heavily on creativity and critical thinking. These are important skills that go beyond subject specialization and are thoroughly taught in a liberal arts curriculum, like the curriculum at Pacific University. In addition, the Pacific Priority Guaranteed Graduate Admissions at Pacific University enables students to go straight from their undergraduate degrees into Pacific graduate programs. These grad programs prepare Pacific graduates to skip many entry level, AI vulnerable jobs and enter the workforce in more highly-skilled mid-level positions.
What Jobs are Safe from AI?
Though every industry will be impacted by AI to some degree, there are some industries that may be less negatively affected. These industries are more likely to offer the AI proof jobs of the future.
Healthcare: Although healthcare will increasingly utilize AI as a tool, the healthcare industry will continue to rely on human workers to provide empathetic and compassionate care while making nuanced decisions for patients. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, music therapists, speech-language pathologists, mental health specialists and dental therapists are widely believed to be examples of healthcare jobs that AI can’t replace. Pacific University is the no. 1 private preparer of healthcare professionals in Oregon.
Education: Education relies on interpersonal connection. Though we can learn in many ways — from books, videos, online courses, in-person classes, tutors — true student support often relies on cultural understanding, empathy and creative problem-solving. These human to human connections are particularly important in the professions of teaching, special education and school psychology, which are more likely to be AI proof careers. According to Niche, Pacific University is the best college for education in Oregon.
Skilled Trades: Professions that require implementing knowledge and skill at a job site generally require human ingenuity because of their unpredictable nature. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics and other skilled trades are frequently considered to be jobs that are safe from AI.
Crisis Responders: In a crisis, situations are unpredictable and can change quickly. This is one reason that the jobs of firefighters, paramedics and disaster relief workers are widely thought to be AI proof careers.
Creative and Interdisciplinary Industries: Professions that involve creativity and interdisciplinary thinking need human workers for success. Though many of these fields may use AI in a variety of ways, humans are expected to remain at the center of jobs like those of creative directors, strategists, choreographers, and artistic professions that rely on storytelling and the human imagination. These are jobs that AI can't replace.
Can Students Get AI Proof Degrees?
AI is a fast-evolving technology that will alter the landscape of many industries. So how do students prepare for these innovations while earning their college degrees? Though we can’t predict the future, one of the best ways to prepare for a flexible and long-lasting career is to get a comprehensive liberal arts education that teaches you the skills you need to adapt to unpredictable circumstances.
Experts predict that the workers of the future will increasingly change jobs and industries, needing to develop new skills throughout their careers. A strong liberal arts education, like the education that students receive at Pacific University, is an ideal way to prepare for this dynamic environment. While specializing in their chosen major, liberal arts students also develop their knowledge of a wide variety of other subjects, providing them with the lifelong learning skills that are necessary in a shifting career landscape. Pacific students also develop the core transferable skills of critical thinking, creative problem solving and empathetic communication that will serve them well as they pursue their purpose while navigating careers across many fields and industries.
Pacific University students and graduates also benefit from a strong and highly involved network of alumni, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare, industries considered safer from AI-driven job displacement. These communities help Pacific students and graduates navigate the changing employment landscape and chart stable career paths. In the AI era, these human connections are crucial.
In addition to developing core skills and adaptability, an AI proof degree must also incorporate technological learning. Today’s students must learn to work with AI tools in order to be prepared for the careers of the future. When planning your college degree, be sure to review the university’s AI policies. These should include guidance for teachers and students and demonstrate a balanced approach that prioritizes students’ core learning while also training students on new technologies. Training for jobs that AI can't replace will mean learning to work alongside AI and manage this emerging technology.
As with any technological advancement, the best way to prepare for career strength and longevity is to develop a variety of skills, continually utilize your creativity and empathy, and remain curious and open to learning throughout your life. Employees who demonstrate flexibility and adapt to technological developments are likely to be successful in an evolving career landscape.
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