AI Can’t Fix Your Pipes: Why Blue-Collar Jobs Are Winning the Future

Geoffrey Hinton, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist known as the Godfather of AI, recently made a remark that raised eyebrows:

“Train to be a plumber.”

It wasn’t a joke. Hinton’s point was sharp — in the age of AI disruption, jobs rooted in manual skill and improvisation are far less vulnerable than office roles once considered prestigious.

And increasingly, the data backs him up.

AI’s Uneven Impact: What the Research Shows

• Microsoft’s study (2025) flagged interpreters, paralegals, customer service reps, and writers as among the most endangered by AI.

• Meanwhile, it found resilience in manual roles like roofers, painters, rail operators, and healthcare aides — jobs where physical presence and human judgment remain essential.

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth in trade-related openings in the coming years, even as entry-level college grad positions stagnate.

Tony Spagnoli of North American Technician Excellence summed it up simply:

“AI can’t replace parts or make improvisational decisions.”

That’s the moat around trades: the ability to adapt to messy, real-world situations where no algorithm can predict every variable.

Gen Z’s Career Pivot

A Resume Builder survey of 1,400 Gen Z adults found:

• 42% are already working in or pursuing a skilled trade.

• Motivations include avoiding student debt, lowering AI-related job risk, and finding stability in practical careers.

• Gen Z men were more likely than women to choose blue-collar work, but across the board, the draw was the same: these jobs feel more future-proof.

As one Gen Z adviser put it: “Many grads find their degrees don’t lead to careers in their field, prompting them to explore more practical, in-demand alternatives.”

But Are Trades Truly Safe?

Not completely. Advances in robotics are beginning to nibble at the edges of manual work — automated welding, truck driving, equipment moving.

But experts like UC Berkeley’s Ken Goldberg caution against exaggeration:

“It’s a very wide misconception that we are on the verge of humanoid robots replacing workers. In my mind, that’s a myth.”

For now, robotics may support trades, but the fine-tuned judgment, dexterity, and improvisation of skilled humans remain irreplaceable.

The Bigger Lesson Beyond Trades

Here’s the paradox: plumbers and painters may look “safe,” but the real story isn’t about which jobs AI can’t touch. It’s about the skills that make any role resilient.

Whether you’re in a workshop or a boardroom, long-term security comes from three things:

1. Adaptability — the ability to adjust when conditions change.

2. Critical judgment — knowing when the machine is wrong.

3. Communication & influence — ensuring decisions stick.

I often tell participants in my data storytelling classes: “Excel or Tableau can crunch numbers, but only you can craft the narrative that moves people to act.” That’s the human advantage.

A Story From Our Side

In a recent FYT Problem Solving with Data Analytics course, one participant asked me: “With AI tools automating analysis, what’s left for us to do?”

The answer became clear during a case exercise: the tool generated numbers quickly, but when it came to framing the problem, testing assumptions, and persuading stakeholders, the human skills stood out. The participant realized the value wasn’t the software — it was their ability to ask better questions and shape the story.

That “aha moment” is exactly what we build in our workshops.

3 Takeaways for Professionals Today

1. Don’t chase “safe” jobs — build resilient skills. Trades look strong now, but the core lesson is adaptability, not plumbing licenses.

2. Pair technical with human. Use AI for speed, but invest in skills like problem framing, communication, and decision influence.

3. See disruption as opportunity. Just as tradespeople will collaborate with robotics, knowledge workers must learn to collaborate with AI — not compete against it.

Where FYT Fits In

At FYT Consulting, we’ve designed our workshops to be that bridge between technical skill and human capability:

• Data Management & Reporting (FYTBA01): Building interactive dashboards that support real decisions.

• Data Analysis and Mining (FYTBA02): A framework-driven approach to asking better questions and testing ideas.

• Storytelling with Data (FYTBA04): Translating analysis into narratives that influence action.

  
  

Like apprenticeships in trades, our sessions are 60–70% hands-on. You don’t just hear concepts — you practice them until they stick. And if you are interested in these courses, you can find them here.

Closing Thought

Hinton’s advice to “train to be a plumber” was more than career guidance — it was a reminder. The safest jobs aren’t defined by titles; they’re defined by the skills no machine can replicate.

For trades, that’s improvisation and craft. For the rest of us, it’s adaptability, influence, and the ability to turn complexity into clarity.

That’s where the future of work lies — and where your competitive edge begins.

Disclaimer & Sources This article draws on reporting from NBC News (“Blue-collar jobs are gaining popularity as AI threatens office work” by Deon J. Hampton, Aug 16, 2025), Microsoft research, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Resume Builder’s Gen Z survey. The commentary and perspectives shared here are my own, reflecting how these trends connect to the work we do at FYT Consulting.