What to study as AI takes hold: the ILO points to jobs being transformed, not disappearing, and that is the key

By Minuto Neuquén · November 7, 2026.

One in four workers worldwide holds a job with some degree of exposure to generative AI, according to an International Labour Organization (ILO) report cited by Minuto Neuquén. The same report argues that the most likely outcome is that jobs will be transformed rather than eliminated outright.

The article looks at which careers have the best prospects. According to the outlet, the standouts are healthcare (nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, elderly care), education, mental health and social work, and the skilled trades (electricians, plumbers, refrigeration technicians).

On the trades, it cites an analysis by the ILO and the Polish research institute NASK of some 30,000 work tasks. Among the occupations least exposed to generative AI, the analysis listed floor and tile installers, plasterers, farmworkers, gardeners, livestock farmers and pest controllers.

In technology, the World Economic Forum (WEF) lists AI and machine learning specialists, data professionals, developers and cybersecurity experts among the fastest-growing jobs through 2030. It also names renewable energy, environmental and electric vehicle engineers. The WEF also estimates that 39% of workers' current skills could be transformed or become outdated between 2025 and 2030.

The article itself cautions that these reports show trends and do not guarantee jobs. Outcomes depend on the country, the region and local demand.

**Our take.** We agree with the underlying conclusion, but with an important caveat: «exposure» is not the same as «replacement». An exposed job can come out stronger if AI absorbs the routine work and leaves the professional with the tasks that require judgment. It can also be cut back if the company decides it now needs fewer people. The reports measure the first; the second depends on business decisions and public policy.

The list also has a limitation. Planning a career around «what a machine can't do today» is a fragile bet, because that boundary keeps moving. Physical and relational work will hold out longer, but robotics and agents are advancing. The criterion the article itself points to at the end is sounder: combine solid training, personal interest and fluency with AI as a tool.

In general, this fits with what we see sector by sector: administrative back-office work is the most exposed, while care, relationships and in-person work hold up better. Young people choosing now will face a demanding transition in the short term, with jobs that change and skills that expire sooner. In the long term, the same technology could bring us closer to a society of greater abundance, where work is increasingly a choice. To get there, the best investment is still learning how to learn.