06.11.2026
Where sharp thinking meets bite-sized reading...
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It’s not unrealistic to imagine a future where the standard administrative or data input heavy job is replaced by a machine that is almost always accurate, efficient and can work tirelessly.
Yes, but perhaps not in the way the more dramatic headlines suggest. AI is undoubtedly changing how work gets done, but “changing” and “eliminating” are very different.
Recent analysis from Boston Consulting Group found that over the next two to three years, around 50 to 55% of jobs will be reshaped by AI, meaning the role stays but the day-to-day tasks evolve. Only a much smaller share, an estimated 10 to 15%, is considered genuinely vulnerable to elimination over the next four to five years, and even that comes with significant caveats around how quickly organisations actually adopt the technology in practice.
It’s also worth noting that some of the most alarming early predictions about AI replacing jobs have already been quietly walked back by the very people who made them. A widely discussed Stanford policy brief on the subject found that the “jobs apocalypse” narrative hasn’t materialised on an economy-wide scale. What we’re seeing instead is more nuanced: certain entry-level and highly repetitive roles are under pressure, while overall employment has remained comparatively stable, with demand for experienced, judgement-led talent continuing to grow.
In short: AI and jobs are a genuinely complex, evolving picture. However, “AI is coming for everyone’s job” simply isn’t supported by the evidence so far.
To understand what jobs will be changed by AI, it helps to think in terms of tasks rather than entire roles. AI is best suited to work that is:
Roles built almost entirely around these characteristics, such as high-volume data entry, routine call centre queries, basic transcription and templated report generation, are the most exposed to genuine AI-driven job-replacement pressure, particularly at entry level.
However, most roles are a blend of automatable and non-automatable tasks. A financial analyst might use AI to pull and summarise data, but still needs to interpret it, challenge assumptions and advise stakeholders. A marketing executive might use AI to draft first versions of content, but still needs strategic judgement, brand instinct and creativity to shape it into something that actually resonates. In these cases, AI becomes a tool that removes some of the more repetitive parts of the job, freeing people up for the parts that add real value.
If you’re wondering which jobs will survive AI, the good news is: most of them. Roles that depend on skills AI struggles to replicate are proving more resilient. Five categories worth highlighting include:
Diagnosing complex, ambiguous cases, delivering difficult news with empathy, and providing hands-on patient care require human judgement and physical presence that AI alone struggles to replicate.
Adapting to a student’s individual needs in real time, building trust, and inspiring curiosity remain deeply human skills. AI can support a teacher, but it can’t replace the relationship at the heart of learning.
Roles that depend on physical dexterity, real-world problem-solving, and face-to-face service, from hotel management to electricians, are far less exposed to automation than desk-based, data-heavy work.
AI can accelerate research and drafting, but the exercise of legal judgement, negotiation and client trust still sits firmly with experienced professionals.
Executive Assistants, PAs and Office Managers are a brilliant example of the “amplified” category. AI can handle scheduling suggestions or first-draft correspondence, but the judgement, discretion, relationship management and ability to anticipate what a business actually needs remain firmly human. If anything, demand for skilled support professionals who can work alongside AI tools is growing.
Rather than fearing AI replacing jobs, the most successful candidates and businesses we work with are the ones actively learning to work with it. A few practical steps:
History has a habit of repeating itself when it comes to technology and work. From the Industrial Revolution to the rise of computers, every major leap in technology has sparked fears of mass unemployment, and every time, human ingenuity has found new ways to create value, new roles, and new industries. Exactly how that pattern will play out with AI remains to be seen.
Yes, the impact of AI on jobs is an important conversation, and some roles will change significantly or disappear altogether. But the overwhelming weight of current evidence points to evolution rather than extinction. The most exciting opportunities will go to those who see AI as a colleague, not a competitor.
Whether you’re a candidate wondering how to future-proof your career, or a business rethinking how your team works, our specialist consultants are here to help you navigate what comes next with confidence.
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