Trade professions face lower AI disruption risk than white-collar jobs

Trade professions, such as electricians, appear to be significantly more resistant to disruption from artificial intelligence than traditional white-collar roles. In Australia, the number of electricians rose to 184,000 in 2025, reflecting a trend where physical, hands-on tasks remain difficult for current robotic technology to replicate.

In contrast, the impact on white-collar sectors is expected to be substantial. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, has warned that 39 per cent of jobs will undergo fundamental changes by 2030, with the potential to eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar positions. As a result, universities are being encouraged to shift focus from policing AI to fostering AI literacy, teaching students to evaluate and apply the technology strategically and ethically in the workplace.