Skip to main content
Northwestern Mutual Northwestern Mutual
Primary Navigation
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us Overview
    • Working With an Advisor
    • Our Financial Strength
    • Sustainability and Impact
  • Financial Planning
    • Financial Planning Overview
    • Retirement Planning
      • Retirement Planning Overview
      • Retirement Calculator Beach chair icon
    • College Savings Plans
    • Private Wealth Management
    • Estate Planning
    • Long-Term Care
    • Business Services
  • Insurance
    • Insurance Overview
    • Life Insurance
      • Life Insurance Overview
      • Whole Life Insurance
      • Universal Life Insurance
      • Variable Universal Life Insurance
      • Term Life Insurance
      • Life Insurance Calculator Shield icon
    • Disability Insurance
      • Disability Insurance Overview
      • Disability Insurance  For Individuals
      • Disability Insurance  For Doctors and Dentists
      • Disability Insurance Calculator Money Parachute icon
    • Long-Term Care
    • Income Annuities
  • Investments
    • Investments Overview
    • Brokerage Accounts & Services
    • Private Wealth Management
    • Investment Advisory Services
    • Fixed & Variable Annuities
    • Market Commentary
  • Life & Money
    • Life & Money Overview
    • Educational Resources About Financial Planning
    • Educational Resources About Investing
    • Educational Resources About Insurance
    • Educational Resources About Everyday Money
    • Educational Resources About Family & Work
    • Market Commentary
    • Podcast
Utility Navigation
  • Find a Financial Advisor
  • Claims
Search NorthwesternMutual.com

Log in

Please fill in your Username and Password.

Enter your username and password to access your account.

Forgot username or password?

Don't have an account? Register.

Log in to other Northwestern Mutual sites:

  • Access Fund
  • Business Insurance
  • Brokerage and Advisory

Get anywhere access, go mobile

  • Download on the App Store
  • Get it on Google Play
  • Life & Money
  • Family & Work
  • Your Career

Jobs Most Likely to Be Automated, and a Few That Won’t


  • Carl Engelking
  • Jan 30, 2020
A warehouse worker at risk of automation moves goods on cart
Artificial intelligence will disrupt work but, then again, technology has always redefined what we call a job. Photo credit: Maskot/Getty Images
share Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share via Email

In the 19th century, bands of English weavers marched through the United Kingdom and destroyed power looms as an act of protest.

That’s because the power loom threatened to upend weavers’ livelihoods; it was a disruptive technology. But, as history has shown, it made clothing affordable to the masses and drew people into the workforce that had, to that point, been left on the sidelines (weavers’ skills were still needed, too). The power loom became a platform from which a textile industry grew. Demand skyrocketed for new jobs with different skills, such as textile traders, fashion designers, retailers, cotton farmers, mechanics, factory designers, accountants, warehouse managers and more.

We’re at a similar inflection point with artificial intelligence (AI) and automation today. Once again, certain professions are ripe for weaver-like disruption, but that doesn’t mean humans are now rendered obsolete — far from it. Instead, like the power loom, AI and automation will likely redefine roles they disrupt, but will also create entirely new jobs that require different skills.

With that caveat in mind, we reviewed studies from independent research firms and national governments to get a broad look at the types of jobs most likely to be automated in the future, as well as a few jobs that won’t. Here’s what we found.

JOBS AT HIGH RISK OF AUTOMATION

Production Roles (assembly line workers, sorters, packers): Jobs based on completing simple, rote tasks repeatedly are first in line for robots — and they already are. Robots excel at repetition because they can do the job 24/7, with no lights on (known as lights-out manufacturing) and with high levels of accuracy — they don’t get tired or demand bathroom breaks. These kinds of jobs can also be hard to fill because people aren’t exactly clamoring for tedious, physically demanding labor.

Retailers, as we write this, are rolling out automated distribution centers and shelf-stocking robots. Robots are stacking pallets, sorting packages and moving entire shelves of inventory in warehouses. Just this year, UPS announced it expects 80 percent of its package volume, at some point, to be touched by an automated sorting machine.

Repetitive Data Work (database management, payroll, administrative assistants): Data entry, paying employees or basic banking services are straightforward, clearly defined functions that can be built into an automated software program.

Take basic HR functions, for example. Enrolling employees in benefits, paying them, managing contracts are essential for a company to function but they take a lot of time. Today, a slew of programs can automate these tasks, but that hasn’t rendered the HR department obsolete. Instead, it’s given these employees more time to focus on higher level tasks like recruiting and retaining talent, motivating employees and addressing other challenges that put the “human” in HR.

Basic Customer Service (entry level sales, waitress, cashier): You’ve probably seen the self-service kiosks at fast-food restaurants or retail stores. And, if you think about it, people can buy cars and get approved for a mortgage on their smartphone. Amazon is testing cashierless stores.

Not long ago, these tasks required interaction with a person. But here’s why they don’t anymore: They are all straightforward transactions that don’t require outside expertise for a consumer to decide. If you want a chalupa, you’re going to get one. You just need an intuitive interface to place the order, not an expert. That’s what we mean by “basic” customer service.

JOBS INSULATED FROM AUTOMATION

Health Care Workers (doctors, therapists, nurses): Speaking with patients or listening to someone discuss their challenges in life require uniquely human skills and expertise. Every person who walks into a doctor’s office presents a unique challenge for a health professional. Doctors are like detectives who need to talk things out with their patients to diagnose, treat and follow-up to find a cure. But that doesn’t mean automation isn’t finding a role in this industry.

Hospitals are testing robots that deliver medications to hospital patients or process routine lab work to get results faster. IBM and other companies are testing AI that can automatically spot cancer from images or scans. But none of these systems replace the expertise of a trained physician. However, handing off simple, time-consuming tasks to machines frees up nurses, doctors and other health care workers to spend more time with patients.

Technicians (engineers, programmers, mechanics): Given all this automation and AI, there’s going to be demand for people who know AI and automation. Machine learning, big data and artificial intelligence jobs are already in high demand and will be for the foreseeable future. Beyond AI, we’ll still need city planners, civil engineers, architects and more with human sensibilities.

Plumbers, auto mechanics, electricians and other skilled trades are also well insulated from automation. Like doctors, these jobs require problem solving, trial and error and creativity because fixes aren’t always straightforward (anyone who’s tried their hand at a big home improvement project or car repair can attest to this). AI still struggles with “open ended” problems and will continue to for quite some time.

Creative Fields (teachers, performers, executive leadership): This one doesn’t require much explanation. A robot would be an awful teacher, because every student is motivated differently. Would a painting by a robot be art? What about a song or poem? Can a robot capture the human nuances of a major news event? Probably not.

The same holds true for leaders. An AI would make an awful CEO. Sure, it might solve big problems in highly logical and efficient ways, but an amoral computer algorithm’s “ideal” solution would likely be far different from a human. An AI programmed to simply maximize profits may conclude it's most profitable to force employees to work without heating or lighting, corrupt every competitor’s computer systems or just fire everyone and invest the savings for a higher return. Sure, it accomplished its task — but at what cost? That’s why we’ll be looking to humans to continue leading governments and business for the foreseeable future.

Related Articles
  • Headshot of woman who built a successful career

    How I Built a Successful Career By Following the ‘Rule of Thirds’

    At two different companies, Barb Klein made her mark as the first woman CFO. Here’s how following the ‘rule of thirds’ helped her get ahead.

  • Woman working on artifical intellegence that could affect the economy

    How Will Artificial Intelligence Affect the Economy?

    A less productive workforce and the potential for robots and artificial intelligence to displace human workers could work together to benefit the economy.

  • Teens checking social media on their smartphones

    5 Economic Megatrends That Defined the Decade

    From the rise of social media to cracking the genome, several economic megatrends defined this decade and will no doubt shape the decade that's to come.

Social Security is an important part of your financial plan.

Your financial advisor can show you how Social Security will work to reinforce your retirement savings. And they’ll show you how it can help you live the life you want in retirement.

Let's get started
Left Dotted Pattern
Right Dotted Pattern

Want more? Get financial tips, tools, and more with our monthly newsletter.

Find What You're Looking for at Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual General Disclaimer

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries. Life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with longterm care benefits are issued by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM). Longterm care insurance is issued by Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, (NLTC) a subsidiary of NM. Investment brokerage services are offered through Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) a subsidiary of NM, brokerdealer, registered investment advisor, and member FINRA and SIPC. Investment advisory and trust services are offered through Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC), Milwaukee, WI, a subsidiary of NM and a federal savings bank. Products and services referenced are offered and sold only by appropriately appointed and licensed entities and financial advisors and professionals. Not all products and services are available in all states. Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with Advisor in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.

Northwestern Mutual Northwestern Mutual

Footer Navigation

  • About Us
  • Newsroom
  • Careers
  • Information Protection
  • Business Services
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Legal Notice
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Notices

Connect with us

  • Facebook iconConnect with us on Facebook
  • X iconFollow Northwestern Mutual on X
  • LinkedIn iconVisit Northwestern Mutual on LinkedIn
  • Instagram iconFollow Northwestern Mutual on Instagram
  • YouTube iconConnect with Northwestern Mutual on YouTube

Over 8,000+ Financial Advisors and Professionals Nationwide*

Find an Advisor

Footer Copyright

*Based on Northwestern Mutual internal data, not applicable exclusively to disability insurance products.

Copyright © 2025 The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI. All Rights Reserved. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries.