AI reshapes the world of work


By Dr. Tim Sandle
July 2, 2025

DIGITAL JOURNAL

A Star Robotics surveillance robot sits on display during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. — © AFP

For several occupations, AI is no longer a distant threat; it is reshaping job security, skills priorities, and career plans. Some potential outcomes are that AI may replace 300 million jobs, based on McKinsey estimates. In terms of timelines, 41% of companies globally expect to reduce their workforce by 2030 due to AI. More specifically, 53% of IT leaders believe AI will shrink workforces.

This is the assessment from the recruitment firm LiveCareerUK, which has released its Jobs AI Will Replace Report. The report outlines the 10 professions most likely to be displaced by AI. The report also provides some guidance as to what those set to be impacted by the report should do next, which Digital Journal summarises.

To support this, sociology professor Eric Dahlin at Brigham Young University in Utah, U.S., has demonstrated that not only are robots not replacing human workers at the rate most people fear, the rate may well be higher. Dahlin’s data showed about 14% of workers said they had seen their job replaced by a robot.

The roles most likely to lose out

Data Entry Clerks

What to do instead: Reskill in data analysis or data management.
Learn Excel, SQL, or Python to shift into roles that interpret and act on data, not just record it.

Telemarketers

What to do instead: Reskill in digital marketing or customer success
Build skills in CRM tools, social media engagement, and sales strategy to stay valuable in a human-centered sales role.

Basic Customer Service Representatives

What to do instead: Reskill in technical support or customer success
Focus on more complex problem-solving roles that require empathy, expertise, and relationship-building.

Retail Cashiers

What to do instead: Reskill in retail management or supply chain operations
Move into areas that require strategic thinking, leadership, or technical know-how in the retail ecosystem.

Proofreaders and Copy Editors

What to do instead: Reskill in content strategy or digital marketing
Leverage your writing instincts in higher-order tasks like brand storytelling, SEO, and campaign planning.

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

What to do instead: Reskill in legal tech, compliance, or litigation support
Apply your legal knowledge in tech-forward fields that blend law with AI and automation tools.

Bookkeepers

What to do instead: Reskill in financial analysis or advisory roles

Move beyond basic number-crunching to deliver strategic insights that businesses can act on.

Fast Food and Restaurant Frontline Workers

What to do instead: Reskill in culinary innovation or restaurant management
Creativity, leadership, and operations knowledge will always be in demand, even if robots flip the burgers.

Warehouse Workers

What to do instead: Reskill in logistics coordination or warehouse technology roles
Learn to operate, oversee, or improve the systems that are replacing repetitive labor.

Entry-Level Market Research Analysts

What to do instead: Reskill in business analytics or data storytelling
Go beyond data collection by learning to turn insights into decisions with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Python.

Based on the above trends, it remains that AI’s impact on the job market is a significant concern, with predictions ranging from substantial job displacement to a more nuanced shift in employment.