Which Jobs Are More Resistant to Being Replaced by AI?

Construction workers in Montreal in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has been developing rapidly and has the potential to change the job market, according to research from Statistics Canada. While some jobs can benefit from the technology, others could be taken over by it.

The report, Experimental Estimates of Potential Artificial Intelligence Occupational Exposure in Canada, looked at what type of jobs could be replaced by AI technology, and which are less likely to succumb to the technological changes.

StatCan said the report estimates the risk to different groups of Canadian workers based on the tasks of the jobs they have.

The report used census data from 2021 to analyze the risk to Canadian workers and found that 29 percent of jobs or 3.9 million workers were in the first group and held jobs that were complementary with AI. Forty percent of jobs, 5.4 million employees, were not at risk of having an AI takeover, and 31 percent of jobs, or 4.2 million employees, could be replaced, according to the authors.

“The experimental estimates presented in this study are largely based on the technological feasibility of automating job tasks,” the authors wrote. “Employers may not immediately replace human labour with AI, even if it is technologically feasible to do so, because of financial, legal and institutional constraints.”

StatCan also noted that some economists have said both the risks and benefits of AI could be exaggerated, and “productivity increases at the macroeconomic level may be modest at best.”

An additional factor is that workers whose job is impacted by AI could transition to other jobs, displacing workers from those industries, according to the report.

Most of the labour economics literature says that less educated workers face a higher risk as they are often in jobs performing routine and manual tasks that AI can do, StatCan said. However, the report notes that a “broader segment” of the labour force could be impacted by an AI takeover as the technology can perform non-routine and cognitive tasks.

Jobs At Risk

The authors looked at some of the jobs that fit into each category. Work that is more routine and repetitive is more likely to be replaced by AI. It includes jobs such as:

• Data entry
• Computer network technicians
• Computer programmers
• Interactive media developers
• Economists
• Administrative jobs in sectors like finance, insurance, and business
• Office support roles
• Sales representatives
• Customer service
• Computer and information systems workers

“Compared with employees in other industries, exposure to AI-related job transformation is higher for employees in professional, scientific and technical services; finance and insurance; information and cultural industries; educational services; and health care and social assistance,” the report says.

AI Resistant Jobs

Jobs that require manual labour are less likely to be taken over by AI. These positions can include:

• Carpenters
• Plumbers
• Firefighters
• Food and beverage servers
• Labourers in processing, manufacturing, or utilities
• Support jobs in sales or service
• Trade helpers
• Construction labourers
• Jobs that support health services
• Natural resource jobs
• Agriculture jobs
• Accommodation jobs