Professions That Are Difficult To Automate
Robots sort packages. Algorithms suggest music. AI creates drafts. Yet there are some professions where machines have a tough time matching the role. Not because technology lacks finesse, but because the job is based on what people do best: intuition, sensitivity and responsibility towards others.
The OECD has tracked occupations with a high risk of automation over time. But research also indicates that it is tasks that are being automated, not entire professions, which is pushing boundaries rather than erasing them.
Where Human Presence Makes the Difference
Let’s begin with the creative. On cultural stages, directors, choreographers and stage managers continue to shape experiences for the viewers. And it’s the contact with the audience that is difficult to match. Creators learn a lot from the audience’s feedback on things, how online casino players react to a Mr Vegas welcome bonus, and whether the crowd laughs at a certain joke during a stand-up gig. Technical systems are surely ideal when it comes to creating light, sound and projections with high precision, but art rises when people interpret each other.
Other professions that would face similar challenges are psychologists and therapists, since they work with relationships, language nuances and trust. Treatment results depend on the conversations. Digital tools provide structure, but empathy and active listening are highlighted as core skills in the coming years. Employers are demanding precisely these types of skills as technology takes over routine tasks.
Turning to healthcare as another example. A nurse doesn’t just read values on a screen. They interpret a look, hear how breathing changes and calms worried relatives. The Covid-19 pandemic may have accelerated automation, as companies reduced reliance on human labour and contact, but the importance of human presence and connection was highlighted at the same time.
Teaching is a profession that won’t change completely any time soon. Educators teach classes that never look the same. The very core for a teacher is about getting a group of young people to want to keep up, which requires elaborate leadership and improvisation skills.
Then we have the legal system that is based on interpretation, ethics and legitimacy. Legal certainty therefore requires more than mathematical precision. Judges weigh words, motives and evidence. The same applies to journalism, which demands the ability to evaluate sources against a changing background. A reporter is someone who pieces together fragments and looks for gaps. The whole point is to find what’s not already determined.
Efficiency in the Exchange
How come these jobs are particularly difficult to automate? Three reasons stand out. First, the social complexity. The situation changes in the moment and requires assessment based on empathy and social codes. Second, physical agility. The world is messy and full of surprises. Precision, balance and sensibility make a huge difference. Third, responsibility. Professions with legal, ethical or safety implications need legitimacy. People accept decisions when they meet a responsible professional.
This does not mean that technology sits on the sidelines. On the contrary. These jobs are amplified with smart tools. The nurse gets better decision-making data. The teacher gets a quick look at where the class is. The journalist gets extensive background searches done. The time that is freed up goes into improving the quality of the craft.
Automation is definitely changing the job market and future occupations. The conclusion points towards restructuring and task shifting. The goal is to outsource the mundane tasks to give more room for stimulating, meaningful and fun ones.
