Beyond AI Disruption: Industries Offering Alternative Career Paths
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries, the question of job displacement is understandably top of mind for many workers.
But amidst the concerns, there are also significant opportunities.
Certain sectors are experiencing growth, creating new roles and demanding new skill sets.
In this post, we explore these emerging career paths, focusing on the industries that are adapting to and even benefiting from the rise of AI.
We’ve asked leading tech executives, leaders, and enthusiasts to share their perspectives, identifying the growth sectors and, crucially, outlining the key factors driving this evolution.
Their insights provide valuable guidance for individuals seeking to reskill, upskill, and navigate the changing demands of the modern workforce.
Read on!
Dr. Morissa Schwartz
While AI continues reshaping many sectors, industries emphasizing authentic human creativity, personal care, or craftsmanship—like independent art and publishing, boutique wellness brands, and highly personalized services—are thriving alongside (and even in reaction to) the AI wave.
Customers crave genuine human connection, creative authenticity, and thoughtfully curated experiences, all areas where AI complements rather than replaces human touch.
As the founder of an indie publishing company and marketing firm, I see firsthand how these sectors are flourishing precisely because they differentiate themselves from automated experiences, using AI as a tool rather than a replacement.
Dr. Morissa Schwartz
Expert AI Trainer
Steven Rothberg
There’s been an explosion in the talent acquisition technology space of products powered by AI, including online assessments of skills and other attributes that candidates may bring to the job, scheduling of interviews, ranking/scoring to determine how well-qualified candidates are to the roles they’re applying to, and sourcing.
None of what AI is doing is new, but what it is doing is far less expensive than when humans do the same work and so it scales a lot better.
One of the underappreciated aspects of the use of AI in recruitment is its potential for illegal bias. AI systems used for recruitment and employment decisions are in the EU’s high-risk category, which means strict rules apply.
Under the EU AI Act, any AI tool that can impact someone’s career whether it be for hiring, firing, or promotion—is labeled under this category.
Troy Doucet
AI is transforming the legal industry, but it’s a driver of growth rather than a cause of job elimination. While people in the industry worry that AI will replace lawyers, it’s actually expanding the industry.
AI is helping corporate legal teams manage workloads, and for law firms, rather than cutting billable hours, it allows them to take on more cases.
Platforms like AI Law enable legal teams to analyze complex case files in minutes instead of weeks.
One major growth area is insurance litigation, where AI is helping insurers process claims faster and cut down on legal costs.
Tech and AI in the legal industry is expanding, and firms that adopt AI strategically now will be better positioned as the industry evolves.
Troy Doucet
Attorney & Founder, AI.Law
Sushant Gandhi
Digital marketing is one of the fields that continues to grow alongside AI, rather than being completely displaced by it.
While AI is automating tasks like content creation, ad targeting and building audience segmentations, the need for human expertise is still essential for tasks like strategy, performance optimization and ethical decision-making.
The industry is evolving quickly, driven by e-commerce expansion, retail media networks (RMNs), and the increasing importance of first-party data. AI is enhancing areas like Search Engine Optimization (SEO), paid media, and personalization, but marketers who can effectively integrate AI tools into their workflows will have a major advantage.
Key career opportunities are emerging in AI-augmented marketing strategy, performance marketing, clean room analytics, and interactive content creation. Privacy and data protection are major forces driving industry-wide changes, increasing the demand for roles in customer journey analysis and first-party data strategy to support compliant and effective marketing
AI isn’t replacing digital marketing, it’s evolving it. The best way to stay ahead is to adapt to AI-driven tools while focusing on strategy, creativity, and consumer insights.
Sushant Gandhi
Senior Manager, The Home Depot
Ace Zhuo
The rise of AI has undeniably disrupted traditional industries but it has simultaneously steered growth in sectors like renewable energy, healthcare, education, cybersecurity and niche financial services. These areas remain resilient because they require human intuition, creativity and strategic adaptation, qualities that are hard to replicate with AI alone.
From my own experience in the forex trading and digital market strategy space, I’ve noticed the financial industry pivoting toward specialized services like algorithmic trading infrastructures, which complement AI without entirely replacing human expertise.
Likewise, education is booming with demand for skilled trainers to guide displaced professionals toward emerging roles.
Cybersecurity, now more critical than ever, thrives because digital threats evolve in ways AI systems can’t always predict.
Renewable energy and sustainability also call for innovative thinkers and operators driving solutions AI can’t devise alone.
Healthcare remains robust, thanks to its reliance on empathetic human interactions and critical thinking.
Growth in these fields isn’t just coincidence—it’s a testament to the adaptability of markets and the human workforce. It’s this adaptability that drives success in the trading world, and it exemplifies why industries that work with, rather than against, AI will continue to offer sustaining career pathways.
Ace Zhuo
CEO, TradingFXVPS
Saddat Abid
AI is shaking things up across industries, but it’s interesting to see how some sectors are thriving alongside it, offering new career paths for people whose jobs might be affected. Healthcare, renewable energy, and education are great examples.
Healthcare is growing fast, especially with things like telehealth and biotechnology becoming more important as populations age and demand for personalized care increases.
Renewable energy is another big one—there’s a real push for solar, wind, and hydrogen energy as governments aim for net-zero emissions.
And then there’s education tech, which is booming with online learning platforms and creative ways to teach.
What’s driving all this? Well, it’s partly demographic shifts—like aging populations—and partly the need to tackle big challenges like climate change.
AI plays a role too; it’s automating repetitive tasks, which frees people up to focus on jobs that require creativity or empathy.
AI isn’t just taking jobs away; it’s creating opportunities in areas where human skills really matter—like mental health support or sustainable engineering.
I think the key here is retraining. For example, factory workers displaced by automation are finding new roles in robotics maintenance or logistics. It’s not easy, but these shifts show that while AI changes the game, there are still plenty of places where human expertise shines.
Ushmana Rai
Industries like healthcare, skilled trades and creative industries are actually growing alongside AI.
The skilled trades of plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry are in demand since automation cannot easily reproduce expert hands-on know-how.
The other stronghold is in healthcare: high demand for nurses, therapists, and home health aides thanks to the older populations.
Creative writing, film, visual arts; they still evolve since human storytelling is irreplaceable. Even those roles that are way off as tech adjacents, like cybersecurity or ethical AI habilitation, show signs of growth as AI becomes ever so more complex.
Major drivers include human intuition, emotional intelligence, and an absolute need for human presence. AI may do some of the heavy lifting; however, the human connection and practical problem-solving in unpredictable settings just can’t be replicated.
Regulations and ethical concerns prompt new job opportunities to support industry growth without compromising societal stability. Rather than making jobs redundant, AI is shifting demand toward roles requiring adaptability, creativity, and hands-on expertise.
Ushmana Rai
Owner, TDEE Calculator
Egor Belenkov
Several industries are growing alongside AI that offer promising careers for displaced workers.
Healthcare continues expanding with aging populations driving demand for clinical and support roles.
Green energy and sustainability sectors are booming as climate concerns intensify.
Traditional trades like plumbing, electrical work, and construction remain strong since they require physical presence and craftsmanship that AI can’t replicate.
Education is transforming, but human teachers are needed who can adapt the curriculum and provide mentorship.
The tourism industry is recovering with a renewed focus on authentic experiences.
What’s driving this? Consumer demand for personalized human interaction, physical skills that machines can’t match, and regulatory frameworks that protect certain professions. These fields offer meaningful work where human judgment and empathy remain irreplaceable.
Hugh Dixon
From what I observe, sectors such as healthcare, clean energy, and skilled trades are booming in spite of AI being the latest thing.
Healthcare is actually at a peak because the demand for more care workers is rising, both in-person and virtual. Human empathy and knowledge of patient care simply cannot be replicated by machines.
Clean energy is another sector that is booming rapidly as the world moves towards cleaner ways of doing things. There is a huge number of workers needed in solar, wind, and energy storage.
Skilled trades, such as plumbing, electrical, and construction, remain in huge demand because automation is not appropriate for hands-on, complicated work that needs a personal touch and problem-solving.
I’ve seen firsthand how workers who transition into these industries, with the right skills, thrive in environments where human connection, imagination, and hands-on experience are valued. These industries are changing, creating opportunities for AI-displaced workers.
Hugh Dixon
Marketing Manager, PSS International Removals
Lauren Petrullo
Three main industries I see growing because of AI are the weather industry, drug discovery and agriculture.
With the amount of weather balloons and the amount of data that they capture, we’re better able to see and understand weather patterns because we are bringing in so much data at a level that would take weeks, if not years, for people to interpret.
For the drug industry, we’re going to see an advancement in the medical space because everything that goes into understanding what solutions can best help various diseases takes so much time, and AI can massively improve the speed of that process and open up research opportunities.
For agriculture, AI allows us to have a better understanding, better crop distribution, better resources, better topographical information to make better-informed decisions.
Another industry that’s growing despite AI, actually, is the creative space. I know that generative AI has gone after a lot of creative designers, but it’s allowing the good creatives to innovate and get better.
Despite AI’s massive input and people being able to create social media graphics relatively quickly, I think there’s a growing demand for higher quality content. And I think while AI can do some, it’s still missing empathy, storytelling, and, and an ability to understand parameters.
Lauren Petrullo
CEO & Founder, Mongoose Media
Sahil Kakkar
Social work continues to grow despite automation advances. AI can’t fully replace empathy-driven professions.
Child welfare, family support, and community work thrive. Crisis intervention requires real human understanding today. People need guidance, not just automated solutions. Emotional intelligence keeps these roles highly relevant now. Social responsibility grows despite AI advancements.
Event planning remains human-driven and experience-focused. AI suggests ideas but lacks human creativity. People always seek customized, memorable experiences. Coordination, networking, and problem-solving require real expertise.
No automation can replace creative execution today. Hospitality thrives on personal interaction and unique moments. Event experiences require more than AI-generated plans.
Sahil Kakkar
CEO & Founder, RankWatch
On behalf of the Techronicler community of readers, we thank these leaders and experts for taking the time to share valuable insights that stem from years of experience and in-depth expertise in their respective niches.
If you wish to showcase your experience and expertise, participate in industry-leading discussions, and add visibility and impact to your personal brand and business, get in touch with the Techronicler team to feature in our fast-growing publication.
