Young Britons Turn Away from Office Jobs, Embrace Skilled Trades amid AI Anxiety
GeokHub
Contributing Writer
LONDON — Dec 2 (GeokHub) As artificial intelligence increasingly reshapes workplaces, many young people in Britain are rethinking their career paths — trading office jobs for hands-on skilled trades. The shift reflects growing concern that automation may render traditional white-collar roles unstable and short-lived.
One example is an 18-year-old plumbing student at a London college who decided against university and desk-bound work, opting for a trade she believes a machine cannot replace. For her, plumbing represents a stable, future-proof job — a sentiment echoed by others who worry that AI layoffs may hit junior and white-collar positions first.
In response, vocational colleges are seeing rising enrolments in courses like plumbing, construction, electrical work and other trades. Many young adults view these fields as more secure: the kind of work where physical skill, hands-on problem solving and human judgment remain irreplaceable — traits difficult to automate.
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For employers and educators, the trend signals a broader recalibration in the labour market. As AI automates routine tasks, demand may grow for trade-based skills that remain resistant to automation. Observers suggest this could reshape career expectations for new generations, with trades increasingly viewed as viable, respectable and long-term career options.
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