How AI is likely to affect hiring
As AI use becomes more widespread, expect hiring practices to change dramatically. The jobs least likely to be automated involve complex thinking and the ability to improve based on changing circumstances. Therefore, you may have to update your hiring process to include more skill assessments. It may also be helpful to add role-playing to your interviews, as it allows you to assess a candidate’s ability to make quick decisions.
There’s no way to know exactly what the future will bring, so it’s tough to create a list of jobs that will never disappear. That said, a job is less likely to go away if it requires expert communication skills. For example, speakers who motivate and inspire audiences are likely to remain employed in some capacity. If you’re involved in succession planning for your organization, look for employees with excellent communication skills and the ability to adapt to change.
Read more: Welcome to the Future: How Artificial Intelligence Is Improving Recruitment
8 jobs that will disappear by 2030
The jobs that will disappear by 2030 all have one thing in common: They involve repetitive tasks that require little in the way of expert knowledge. Here are the top eight job titles that may go away completely due to increased AI usage.
1. Order picker
Order pickers use serial numbers, barcodes and other identifiers to locate items in warehouses and get them ready for shipping. Although it’s an important responsibility, AI tools are capable of matching product identifiers with purchase orders, so retailers, wholesalers and distributors may not need to hire human order pickers in the near future.
2. Tax preparer
Tax preparers assist customers by transferring information from wage statements and other documents to federal, state and local tax returns. Advanced AI tools are capable of transferring the same information without human intervention, so tax preparers may become obsolete at some point.
Note that tax preparers and accountants have different job duties. While accountants may provide tax preparation services, they also prepare financial statements, evaluate financial risk, and perform other high-level tasks. Therefore, accountants are less likely to be replaced by AI than tax preparers.
Related: Tax Preparer Job Description
3. Cashier
Cashiers scan merchandise, process credit card payments, make change and perform related duties. Because AI tools mimic human intelligence, they can perform the same activities—usually faster and with higher levels of accuracy. To save money and reduce the risk of financial losses associated with human error, employers may replace their cashiers with AI.
4. File clerks
Although the concept of a paperless office is nothing new, some companies are still working to digitize their paper records. For example, firms that opened in the 1970s and 1980s may have thousands of files to convert. Until now, they’ve been hiring people to locate older files and scan them into new digital filing systems.
The process of opening a file, taking out a sheet of paper, scanning it and then repeating the process several thousand times is highly arepetitive. As a result, some companies are replacing their file clerks with AI tools. These tools are capable of processing records in a fraction of the time.
5. Outbound sales agent
Many companies use outbound sales professionals to contact potential customers and pitch their products or services. These agents let people know about new products, offer time-sensitive discounts and use other tactics to generate revenue.
Although AI won’t replace all sales professionals, there’s a good chance it could replace some of the duties of outbound sales agents. AI technology is so advanced that companies can now record their sales pitches and play them every time a potential customer picks up the phone, eliminating the need to pay someone to make calls. AI tools are also capable of interacting with potential customers, which may improve sales conversion rates.
6. Legal secretary
Legal secretaries play an important role in law firms all over the world, but many of their duties are somewhat repetitive. For example, legal secretaries spend a lot of time formatting documents and completing routine paperwork. Advanced AI tools can often perform these same tasks in less time—and typically with fewer errors. Paralegals make strategic decisions, so they’re less likely to be replaced, although they may be able to save time by using AI tools to complete assigned tasks.
Related: Legal Secretary Job Description
7. Assembly technician
Assembly technicians use gears, screws and other components to create finished products. Each person on an assembly line usually performs just one task, such as adding the legs to a coffee table or putting decorative touches on a throw pillow. This type of work can be very y repetitive, so many manufacturers are turning to AI to reduce their labor costs. AI tools are capable of following manufacturer instructions and creating multiple product configurations.
8. Travel agent
Some people aren’t comfortable booking their own flights or choosing an all-inclusive resort for their next vacation. Until now, travel agents have handled these tasks—and more—for customers who prefer to sit back and let someone else research each destination, identify the best attractions and arrange for land, air and sea transportation.
Customers can now use AI tools to search for attractions, compare hotels and find the best prices on things such as airfare and train tickets. Some tools even make travel recommendations based on a customer’s budget, interests or preferred vacation type. For example, if someone enjoys red wine and wants to treat their spouse to an anniversary getaway, an AI tool can give them a list of recommended wineries in Napa. It can provide the same type of assistance to a wildlife photographer who wants to visit Alaska or a mom who wants to plan her toddler’s first trip to Walt Disney World. ChatGPT can also help with putting together detailed trip itineraries.
