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College Majors and Careers That Will Thrive Alongside AI

Updated: Jun 8


When discussing college major with my students, more and more often the conversation comes around to what career fields may be in jeopardy of being handed over to AI. Not being a tech wizard myself, I haven’t had an answer beyond perhaps the most obvious. So I decided to do some research. Here’s what I learned.

 

According to the April 2025 Forbes article “These Jobs Will Fall First as AI Takes Over the Workforce,” things are changing quickly. "Estimates vary, but experts converge on a window of 10 to 30 years for AI to reshape most jobs. A McKinsey report projects that by 2030, 30% of current U.S. jobs could be automated, with 60% significantly altered by AI tools. Goldman Sachs predicts up that to 50% of jobs could be fully automated by 2045, driven by generative AI and robotics. The actual pace, however, depends on technological breakthroughs, regulatory frameworks, and economic incentives."


AI only first came onto the public consciousness in 2022, with the release of ChatGPT, so it’s no wonder many of us are still trying to wrap our heads around what it can do. The chart below documents the extent to which the rise of artificial intelligence has influenced what college students plan to study. In the graduating class of 2024, 10% considered it "a lot" when choosing a major, compared with 24% of the class of 2027. This will undoubtedly increase exponentially at record pace.

To get some answers, I searched the internet and found numerous articles on the subject, then realized why not ask ChatGPT? I posed my question like this, "What should high school students know about careers that will be affected by AI?" The responses corroborated what I had read elsewhere:


⚠️ Career Fields Most Likely to Be Eliminated or Shrink Due to AI

🖥️ 1. Routine Office & Administrative Work

• Data entry

• Office clerks

• Payroll processing

These jobs are disappearing fast as companies automate repetitive office tasks.


💰 2. Basic Accounting & Bookkeeping

• Bookkeepers

• Basic tax preparers

• Entry-level accountants

Software like QuickBooks, TurboTax, and AI tools are already doing much of this work.


📰 3. Basic Content Creation

• Article writers for SEO websites

• Product description writers

• Basic copywriters

AI can generate these types of content extremely quickly and cheaply.


📞 4. Customer Support & Call Centers

• Phone support agents

• Live chat operators

Many companies are shifting to AI-powered chatbots and voice assistants.


⚖️ 5. Legal Support Roles

• Paralegals who do document review

• Legal researchers

AI can analyze large sets of legal documents faster and more accurately.


🏭 6. Manufacturing & Warehousing

• Assembly line workers

• Quality control inspectors

• Inventory sorters

Robotics and AI are taking over much of this work in large factories and warehouses.


🚚 7. Transportation (Long-Term Risk)

• Truck drivers

• Taxi drivers

• Delivery drivers

Self-driving technology is improving — this may take 10–20 years but could dramatically reshape this field.


For additional insights to how each of these fields are affected, check out TechTarget's April 2025 article "Will AI Replace Jobs? 18 Job Types That Might Be Affected,"


The World Economic Forum (WEF) data points to a positive flip side to the story. Although roles are indeed being eliminated, WEF’s report back in 2020, suggests that despite 85 million roles being displaced, 97 million new jobs are expected to emerge, specifically in fields like data science, AI development and monitoring, and AI and human collaborative roles.


In March 2025, The US Bureau of Labor Statistics shared this AI Impacts in BLS Employment Projections chart showing the projections for all careers that could be affected by AI and it does not look as bleak as some might project:

So what college majors are safest from the threat of automation? Again, I went to ChatGPT:

 

✅ Good Future-Oriented Majors

(Majors that emphasize creativity, problem-solving, people skills, leadership, or cutting-edge technology — all harder for AI to replace.)


💻 STEM & Tech

• Computer Science (with AI literacy!)

• Data Science / Analytics

• Cybersecurity

• Biomedical Engineering

• Environmental Engineering


🏥 Healthcare & Human Services

• Nursing

• Physical Therapy

• Occupational Therapy

• Psychology

• Social Work

• Medical Technology


🎨 Creative & Strategic Fields

• Design (UX/UI, industrial design, visual design)

• Marketing Strategy & Branding (emphasis on creativity + data)

• Film/Video Production (creative storytelling)

• Entrepreneurship & Innovation


🔧 Skilled Trades (very AI-resistant!)

• Electrician

• Plumber

• HVAC Technician

• Precision Machining

• Advanced Manufacturing (robotics technicians)


🎓 Education & Leadership

• Teaching (especially early education & special education)

• Educational Technology

• Leadership & Organizational Studies

 

While we don’t fully know what the future holds, for career fields we are currently employed in, or are interested in, it is recommended we discover how AI can help us, how to partner with it, and what it’s limits are. Our goal is to provide a higher level of contribution - to stay ahead of what AI can do.

 

Additionally, individuals can future-proof their careers by focusing on interdisciplinary majors, such as University of Illinois’ Comp Sci + X major, continuous learning through certification platforms such as these AI-related courses through Coursera, and developing human qualities that AI cannot replicate, such as emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving.


For those interested in a career in AI, more colleges are jumping on the bandwagon to add AI-related majors, such as University of South Florida’s Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing major. Look also for curriculum across all majors that integrates practical uses of AI, indicating the college is staying on pace with what students will need to know. University of Delaware's AI Center of Excellence highlights how they are integrating AI knowledge into their programs. The Best Colleges article "Here's How Business Schools are Teaching AI" provides an overview of what some Business schools are doing.


Before committing to a major, it’s important to think beyond just current trends. Ask yourself:

  • Does this career rely on emotional intelligence, creativity, or human judgment? Does it thrive on empathy, adaptability, and originality—traits AI can’t replicate.

  • Does it require physical presence or hands-on interaction? Jobs in healthcare, early childhood education, and social work often involve tasks that require direct human involvement.

  • Is AI a tool in this field—or a threat? Look for roles where AI serves as an assistant, not a replacement. If technology enhances productivity without replacing people, that’s a good sign.

  • Are there long-term growth opportunities in this industry? Consider if the field is expanding, evolving, or opening new pathways. .

 

Since it appears to be here to stay, it is in our best interest to educate ourselves to how we can work adjacent to artificial intelligence, rather than ignoring or fearing it.

 

As I write this blog, I know it will age quickly. This is one I may need to return to, with new strategies, in the evolving, lightening-speed AI universe.

 

 
 
 

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