The rise of AI is reshaping the job market, sparking concerns about the future of work. While automation is replacing routine tasks in areas like customer support and data entry, jobs that require empathy, emotional intelligence, and human interaction are proving harder for AI to take over, according to Alejandro Sposato, assistant professor at Zayed University, in The National.

Caregiving roles, especially elder care, highlight this challenge. These jobs demand a mix of medical skills, emotional support, and physical assistance – elements that AI struggles to replicate. While technology can assist with tasks like medication schedules or health monitoring, it falls short in delivering the human touch that caregiving requires.

The trend isn’t limited to caregiving. Professions such as mental health counselors, teachers, social workers, and physical therapists also involve complex human interactions that resist automation. Emotional intelligence, contextual decision-making, and adaptability to unpredictable situations remain vital in these fields.

Sposato also pointed to global demographic shifts influencing future job markets. Ageing populations in Western Europe, Japan, and North America are driving demand for eldercare services, while younger demographics in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa could play a key role in filling job gaps in ageing societies. Such trends could reshape workforce migration and economic patterns.

Historical examples, like transitions during the Industrial Revolution, show that technological advances often create new job opportunities. However, these shifts can leave certain communities behind. The rapid pace of AI development makes adaptation even more urgent today.

Sposato emphasized that successful transitions require a combination of personal adaptability, institutional support, and government policies. Online learning platforms, flexible education programs, and retraining initiatives offer pathways for workers to reskill, but these efforts must be backed by strong social safety nets.

Ultimately, the challenge lies in preparing society for this massive transformation. Whether AI leads to widespread displacement or collective progress depends on how well individuals, institutions, and governments respond to the changes ahead.