Any ideas for a job/career for my son?

[olderbutwiser]

My lovely DS is looking for a stable, modest job/work area that's reasonably AI-proof.

He's worked consistently since he was 17, is now 34. Spent most of the past 10+ years working in call centres for a couple of banks. Good work record.

His strengths are - maths/numbers/systems/processes; diligent and responsible; fast worker; quick learner; bright.

He is not sociable or a people person (autistic traits). Refused uni.

In the pre-internet/pre-ai days he'd have made a great accountant/bookkeeper/administrator, but all those jobs seem very vulnerable to AI.

Any ideas o wise ones?

At his age, I would advise retraining in a practical trade. Electrician, plumber, plasterer, joiner, bricklayer.

Is that a possibility? He’ll never be short of work and will probably be able to set up on his own within a short time of qualifying.

If he’s been ok working in a call centre in terms of communication, then insurance claims could work for him. DH started his career as a call handler for a motor insurance claims company and now runs a company. Although they only take graduates on in their training programme for claims handlers, they have people who started in business support roles and then have shown themselves well and been sponsored to do their exams and transfer to claims handlers.

Electrician is a good shout! All those Ai-servers will surely need servicing....

Would he not try to get into the civil service? Not being sociable or being on the autistic spectrum need not hold him back from a good career and promotion in the CS. These are quite common traits in some parts of the CS - including where I work.

Could he try Civil service jobs particularly HMRC?

I reckon public servants are likely to see impact of AI later than private sector, due to incompetence/inefficiency/resistance of staff. Plus good pension and usually sensible flexibility at work

Agree with pp who suggested retraining for a physical trade.

imo these are the most ai-proof careers at the moment.

if he is into numbers / systems / processes and not getting his hands too dirty then electrician might suit. As well as general electrical wiring work there areas he could specialise in such as building data banks, entertainment systems, solar power systems, electric car charging set ups, etc once he became qualified. I feel like the demand for electricians is only going to keep increasing as we become more and more reliant on technology

HMRC is one of the few Civil Service departments looking to expand and recruit, and sounds like it would be a good place for your DS.

Thank you so much everyone. I'll see how he reacts to the idea of electrician - god knows it would be handy to have one in the family. Plumber would be even better! But HMRC/civil service is a good bet too.