AI vs Trades & Physical
How does AI compare to Trades & Physical on AI displacement risk? AI averages 56.0/100 (median 57.5, mode 65) across 39 assessed roles, while Trades & Physical averages 60.5/100 (median 62.3, mode 61) across 369 roles. Explore the zone distributions, specialisms, and individual roles below.
AI
56.0
/100
Mean56.0
Median57.5
Mode65
39 roles assessed
28
10
1
Green 28
Yellow 10
Red 1
Specialisms
| Specialism | Avg Score | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| AI Research & Governance | 62.2 | 12 |
| AI/ML Engineering | 58.6 | 16 |
| Generative & Language AI | 45.5 | 11 |
Safest Roles
Most At-Risk Roles
Trades & Physical
60.5
/100
Mean60.5
Median62.3
Mode61
369 roles assessed
322
36
11
Green 322
Yellow 36
Red 11
Specialisms
| Specialism | Avg Score | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Roofing | 73.5 | 9 |
| HVAC | 67.1 | 16 |
| Plumbing & Pipefitting | 66.6 | 18 |
| Finishing Trades | 66.3 | 44 |
| Electrical & Mechanical | 64.9 | 59 |
| Masonry | 63.8 | 23 |
| Structural Trades | 63.4 | 52 |
| Specialist Repair & Restoration | 60.6 | 49 |
| Welding | 60.5 | 12 |
| Automotive | 60.3 | 35 |
| Equipment & Vehicle Repair | 58.7 | 33 |
| Construction Support | 57.8 | 38 |
| Heavy Equipment | 57.7 | 19 |
| Facility Services | 54.9 | 42 |
| Painting & Finishing | 52.7 | 21 |
| Machining & CNC | 34.1 | 18 |
Safest Roles
Most At-Risk Roles
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator (Mid-Level) 10.7
- Parking Attendant (Mid-Level) 12.5
- CNC Tool Programmer (Mid-Level) 18.1
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Mid-Level) 22.1
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender (Mid-Level) 22.5
Frequently Asked Questions
Which domain is safer from AI — AI or Trades & Physical?
Trades & Physical averages 60.5/100 across 369 roles, while AI averages 56.0/100 across 39 roles — a 4.5-point gap. Trades & Physical has more roles in the Green Zone, making it the safer domain overall.
How many roles are in AI vs Trades & Physical?
AI covers 39 assessed roles and Trades & Physical covers 369 roles. Each role is individually scored on the AI Job Resistance Index across five dimensions including Task Resistance, Evidence, Barriers, Protective Principles, and AI Growth Correlation.
Useful Resources
- Will AI Take Over Cyber Security? Careers and Tech Reviewed — How AI is reshaping cybersecurity roles — and which ones survive.
- Is Technology a Good Career Path? [2026 Expert Advice] — Expert assessment of technology as a career choice.
- StationX Weekly Newsletter — Weekly cybersecurity news, tips, and career advice.
- How To Use ChatGPT and AI for Cyber Security (2026) — Practical AI applications for security professionals.
- How AI Benefits Cyber Security (And the Risks) in 2026 — How AI is transforming security — benefits and threats.
- 10 Examples of AI in Cyber Security (Latest Research) — Real-world AI applications in security operations.
- What Is Microsoft Security Copilot? A Comprehensive Guide — Guide to Microsoft's AI-powered security assistant.
- Top 18 Cyber Security GPTs and How to Use Them (2026) — Custom GPTs built for security tasks — reviewed and ranked.
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