Emerging technology, genuine concerns: how anxiety about AI is disrupting career goals.

In 2025, Matthew Ramirez embarked on a journey as a computer science major at Western Governors University, attracted by the idea of a lucrative and flexible profession in programming. Yet, with the rise of alarming headlines focusing on layoffs in the tech sector and concerns about AI’s capability to replace junior developers, Matthew began to reconsider whether this career path would indeed secure him employment.

The doubt grew even greater after an unsuccessful interview for a datacenter technician position that June, with no follow-up from the company. By December, driven by a sense of urgency for a more secure future, Ramirez made a significant decision. He abandoned his ambitions in computer science for a nursing career, influenced by his family’s heritage in the healthcare field and the perceived stability of nursing compared to coding.

“AI may not yet threaten all entry-level jobs, but by the time I graduate, it probably will,” said Ramirez, echoing a sentiment felt by many young professionals amidst shifting job landscapes.

Ramirez is certainly not alone in reshaping his career path due to concerns about AI. Many students are rethinking their majors due to fears that AI might impact their future job opportunities, while seasoned workers are also re-evaluating their career trajectories. Some are choosing to reject AI altogether, while others are determined to adapt and embrace its presence.

The timeline for AI to reach a level where it can replace certain white-collar roles remains uncertain, as does the breadth of positions it could take over. Nevertheless, the underlying anxiety regarding AI’s potential to disrupt current job markets drives many individuals to alter their career paths, reshaping the workforce dynamic even before full automation takes hold.

What’s evident is the source of this unease among workers. According to the World Economic Forum, AI could potentially displace 92 million jobs worldwide by 2030, including numerous white-collar positions. Reports indicate that, in the U.S., AI played a role in about 55,000 job cuts in 2025, as labor markets faced increasing scrutiny.

Although AI is just one among several factors contributing to layoffs, data from ADP, the U.S.’s largest payroll processor, highlighted that professional and business services positions, alongside information services jobs in sectors like media and telecom, collectively shed 41,000 roles in December 2025. In contrast, sectors such as healthcare, education, and hospitality witnessed growth during the same period.

Many of the roles at risk for such disruptions involve coding, data analysis, and various writing tasks—all of which generative AI is becoming adept at performing. Jobs that require interpersonal interaction and hands-on skills continue to maintain their appeal.

Dr. Jasmine Escalera, a career development expert at Zety, points out that young workers are increasingly attracted to professions emphasizing human skills such as creativity and personal connection to reduce their vulnerability to automation. In fact, research shows that a staggering 43% of Gen Z individuals anxious about AI are gravitating away from entry-level corporate jobs towards professions that rely on these essential “human skills.”

Moreover, 53% of young respondents report seriously considering blue-collar or skilled trades as alternatives. Escalera suggests that this trend is a strategic move to minimize exposure to automation, a notion that the Wall Street Journal recently acknowledged.

However, making such a pivot can come with numerous sacrifices. Many of the white-collar jobs that instill concern over automation, ranging from software development to financial analysis, offer higher median salaries—often exceeding $75,000 annually, with software developers earning about $133,000, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In contrast, blue-collar roles tend to offer reduced compensation, with many skilled trades such as electricians and plumbers averaging around $60,000 per year. This category of work often requires physical presence, manual labor, and less predictable schedules—trade-offs many professionals find acceptable for the sake of future-proofing their careers.

For some job seekers, any mention of AI in job descriptions raises immediate concerns, leading them to disregard such opportunities entirely.

After a layoff in January, Roman Callaghan, age 30, spent nine months searching for his next role. His prior position as a medical coder, which involved administrative duties such as liaising with insurance companies and entering medical data, left him feeling vulnerable after AI was introduced in his workplace. Although the layoffs were not directly linked to AI, Callaghan suspected that his concerns were warranted.

As he sought new employment, Callaghan intentionally avoided any roles mentioning terms like “AI integration” or “AI-first” in their listings. Although he aimed for a fresh opportunity, the impacts of AI-induced anxiety led him to perceive certain jobs as ephemeral and undesirable. His priority was to circumvent another layoff linked to AI practices in future companies.

In the span of his job search, Callaghan applied to over 100 positions in data entry, medical coding, call center roles, and paralegal tasks, while consciously bypassing around 30 to 40 listings that referenced AI. To make ends meet, he took odd jobs at a local fish store and later at a call center until he secured a data entry position in mid-October.

Avoiding AI-centric job roles, however, constricted his options considerably. “I felt my choices shrank, yet adhering to my principles seemed worthwhile,” Callaghan observed.

Recruiters have noted a growing trend among candidates who are disengaging from AI-related job opportunities. Marshall Scabet, CEO of Precision Sales Recruiting, mentioned that recently about a quarter of sales candidates expressed a desire to transition away from jobs in software-as-a-service (SaaS), reflecting apprehension that these roles could be supplanted by AI.

Many individuals in tech sales believe transitioning to roles in industrial equipment sales is a safer bet against automation, as those positions require building genuine relationships with vendors, a task they feel AI cannot replicate. “To them, it seems less likely that AI would take over these jobs,” Scabet stated. “An AI won’t walk into a factory to pitch a machine.”

For seasoned professionals, interactions with AI at work are prompting complete industry shifts or the acquisition of new skill sets.

Liam Robinson, a 45-year-old animator, has intentionally moved away from roles in the mobile gaming sector, where he has worked for over a decade. After observing a decline in animation quality due to the adoption of generative AI among his peers, Robinson refused to conform and subsequently found himself laid off.

Disillusioned by the industry’s direction, which he believes stifles creativity and craftsmanship, Robinson is no longer seeking traditional employment. Instead, he’s focusing on creating web comics and remains open to additional work ranging from ridesharing to waste disposal if necessary, stating, “As long as I can contribute something and earn a minor income, that suffices for me.”

Professionals like Robinson are redefining their perspectives on stability in work according to Arianny Mercedes, founder of the career strategy firm Revamped. Clients increasingly aim for positions linked to regulated sectors, such as healthcare administration, education, or compliance, rather than solely chasing prestige or high salaries.

“The priority is not to escape AI; it’s to find roles where AI can augment processes without diminishing human oversight or judgment,” Mercedes remarked.

Conversely, some individuals are choosing to cautiously embrace AI.

After four years of developing and designing websites, Dmitry Zozulya recognized the growing challenges posed by emerging AI tools capable of fulfilling his former role. In response, the 29-year-old transitioned away from conventional website creation to offer AI-driven automation services that help businesses streamline their operations and enhance workflow efficiency. He now manages a consultancy while also developing personal projects to enhance his skills.

“Adapting is crucial, even when it feels uncomfortable,” Zozulya stated, embodying an essential mantra in this evolving employment landscape.

Whether the surge of AI is steering workers away from whole industries or simply specific roles, it undoubtedly reshapes their perspectives regarding future employment. And this recalibration is happening swiftly.

For Ramirez, the shift in thinking began even before he had officially entered the workforce. His transition from computer science to nursing signifies a belief that he will secure employment upon graduation, despite relinquishing the future he initially envisioned.

“As far as I can tell, the risk of healthcare jobs disappearing remains minimal right now,” Ramirez concluded. “I can’t predict the future, but in the next few years, they should still be around.”