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Original poster

What happens to kids if AI takes entry level jobs? What you advising them?

312 replies

Tffjyvkbh · 23/04/2026 09:56

On back of the worming class boys thread. If AI takes over white collar jobs, what happens to all the m.c. communities. Education and aspiration became a feature post industrialisation once blue collar jobs disappeared and you needed education to get ahead in office jobs. What happens now? My kid is only 6 but already thinking about this.

If AI takes jobs, does education become pointless. How are parents guiding their kids? Looking at parts that lost industries, will parts of South east become like that once office jobs go?

If even Oxbridge and STEM is no longer enough to guarantee a comfortable life, then what for the young people?

OP posts:
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Dontlletmedownbruce · 23/04/2026 10:47

I worry about this too with 3 teens. All academic types who are more suited to desk type jobs than trades. I honestly don't know what to advise other than you just don't know. When I was finishing school everyone said we needed to learn German because it was going to be the new language of European business, that didn't happen.

JaneFondue · 23/04/2026 10:46

At 6, your DC will have time to swerve and make different choices than those currently entering the system.

JaneFondue · 23/04/2026 10:43

Honestly no one knows. I do not know if my young adult DC will have jobs in 3 years time.
I predict multi generational households and the bank of Mum and Dad being more important than ever.

StandFirm · 23/04/2026 10:39

xanthomelana · 23/04/2026 10:20

Get a trade. Plumbers, electricians etc will fare better against AI long term and there’s decent money to be made and no uni debts.

It's not that simple because what is really in the pipeline is a combination of robotics automation and AI. Humans will still be required to operate systems but ultimately let's face it, far less human positions will be required, even in the trades. Ultimately it will also end up being an issue for the owners of such tech as they will run out of consumers if we don't radically change our definition of growth and prosperity. AI, automation across the board and 20th century style capitalism are on a collision course. I agree it's pointless to worry about careers right now but at the same time we all need to acknowledge that a paradigm shift is on the horizon. Not a matter of if but when.

SharpTooth · 23/04/2026 10:34

Depending on how clever they are/if they like medical things, dentistry? That won’t be taken over by AI anytime soon. Ridiculously stressful though.

persisted · 23/04/2026 10:31

There are jobs now that did not exist when I left school, even more so since when my dad did. Things will change, other opportunities will open up.
They need to work hard and be adaptable, same as it ever was.

Original poster
Tffjyvkbh · 23/04/2026 10:29

It doesn't help that all my middle aged friends keep saying that their jobs are safe but young people are in trouble. Those young people are our kids.

OP posts:
Owninterpreter · 23/04/2026 10:27

Interesting times are ahead.

Trades are great and less vulnerable to AI but i think salaries will go down from increased competition if everyone goes into trades instead of what they were going to do and not everyone is suited to doing a trade.

I also wonder who is going to employ a lot of the trades if there arent any other jobs out there.

Original poster
Tffjyvkbh · 23/04/2026 10:27

Everyone says get a trade but if everyone does that, who will pay them? I guess that I do worry that I won't be able to guide them properly. It feels like it used to be much easier before, study well, go to uni, get a gras job. That's what me and all my friends did.

OP posts:
xanthomelana · 23/04/2026 10:20

Get a trade. Plumbers, electricians etc will fare better against AI long term and there’s decent money to be made and no uni debts.

OvertiredAndEmotional · 23/04/2026 10:17

My RG graduate who can’t find a job is considering retraining as a plumber or hairdresser as these can’t be done by A.I.

frozendaisy · 23/04/2026 10:14

They will be fine.

Stop worrying and enjoy your child being 6.

We have two teens (one a’level one gcse)
They will be fine.

Your child might hate maths with a passion - they will still be fine.

Teach them to enjoy learning, work hard, have a pride in what they do and to respect those trying to teach them.

They will be fine.

Honestly @Tffjyvkbh there is no silver bullet to leapfrog a direct course to the top future career, because no one knows.

Put it out of your mind, enjoy their childhood and they will make the decisions that are right for them when the time comes.