Most Gen Z workers fear AI is eventually going to kill their careers — and force them into blue-collar jobs

AI is rendering Gen Z job-solete.

With bots becoming ubiquitous in every sector, the 20-somethings coming of working age during the AI era fear that the tech could derail their careers.

According to a survey by online job platform Zety, 72% of Gen Z workers believe AI will kill the number of entry-level corporate jobs over the next half-decade, pushing them towards blue-collar gigs to remain vocationally relevant.

Gen Z’s “interest in trade work and hands-on careers shows a desire for purpose, security, and control in an AI-driven world,” Jasmine Escalera, a career expert at Zety, told HR Drive.

“I call this shift the ‘AIxiety Pivot’ — a growing movement of professionals who are proactively changing course because of AI-related fears and instability.”

Zety discovered this troubling trend by polling more than 1,000 Zoomer employees in the US, questioning them on topics ranging from job security to AI’s impact on entry-level roles and a shifting interest toward trade careers.

A staggering 65% of respondents fretted that college degrees would not safeguard them against automation. Meanwhile, 1 in 5 (18%) said they had little to no confidence that their current career trajectory would still be relevant in the next decade.

Thankfully, it appears that members of so-called Generation La-z aren’t content to remain at the mercy of the ever-shifting and fickle job market.

A staggering 43% of Gen Z employees have adjusted their plans for the AI age, with 40% of respondents teaching themselves new skills or earning certifications, while 29% of Gen Z are switching jobs by looking at entirely new industries.

“More Gen Z college graduates are turning to trade careers and for good reason,” Resume Builder’s Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller pointed out.

“Trade jobs offer hands-on work that’s difficult to automate. Additionally, many grads find their degrees don’t lead to careers in their field, prompting them to explore more practical, in-demand alternatives.”

53% felt that blue-collar and skilled trades, such as construction and plumbing, were less susceptible to AI takeovers.

Meanwhile, 47% felt people-focused professions such as healthcare, education, and social work were secure, while just 12% deemed operational or administrative roles like finance, HR, and project coordination safe from tech-stinction.