60 per cent of jobs will change by 2050: The complete list of roles AI will replace first.

Haven't you heard? Robots are taking over.

They're becoming therapists, doctors, financial advisers, you name it. And they're only getting smarter by the day. 

This year, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) market size is projected to reach $244.22 billion USD (approx $378 billion AUD). By 2031, that number is expected to grow to $1.0 trillion USD (approximately $1.57 trillion AUD). 

Basically, AI is advancing. Fast.

And as it grows, it has big implications on our careers.

By 2050, AI is projected to reshape the global workforce on a massive scale; research from PwC, McKinsey, and the World Economic Forum suggests that as many as 60 per cent of today's roles will undergo major changes.

Watch: Australian artist CJ Henry shares her views on AI in art. Post continues after video.

So, how do we know if our job is part of that statistic? Well, Microsoft has some answers. Last month, the tech company released a report that measured the occupational implications of AI.

"Given the rapid adoption of generative AI and its potential to impact a wide range of tasks, understanding the effects of AI on the economy is one of society's most important questions," read the report.

In their research, Microsoft developed an "AI applicability score" by looking at how people actually use generative AI tools in their work. The idea is that the jobs with the highest AI applicability score are the roles most exposed to automation.

We've taken a look at the findings, and what they mean for our careers. Here's everything we know about the economic robot takeover.

Listen: Is AI going to take my job. Post continues below.

Which jobs are most at risk of being replaced by AI? 

While Microsoft says high AI applicability doesn't necessarily mean those roles will be completely replaced, experts caution that these careers are most likely to experience a large impact from automation.

In other words, they're the roles most at risk.

Top 40 jobs AI could replace first.

Microsoft found that AI is most commonly used for information gathering and writing. And the most common activities AI itself performs are "providing information and assistance, writing, teaching, and advising".

With that in mind, here are the top 40 occupations with the highest AI applicability score.

1. Interpreters and Translators.

2. Historians.

3. Passenger Attendants.

4. Sales Representatives of Services.

5. Writers and Authors.

6. Customer Service Representatives.

7. CNC Tool Programmers.

8. Telephone Operators.

9. Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks.

10. Broadcast Announcers and Radio DJs.

11. Brokerage Clerks.

12. Farm and Home Management Educators.

13. Telemarketers.

14. Concierges.

15. Political Scientists.

16. News Analysts, Reporters, Journalists.

17. Mathematicians.

18. Technical Writers.

19. Proofreaders and Copy Markers.

20. Hosts and Hostesses.

21. Editors.

22. Business Teachers, Postsecondary.

23. Public Relations Specialists.

24. Demonstrators and Product Promoters.

25. Advertising Sales Agents.

26. New Accounts Clerks.

27. Statistical Assistants.

28. Counter and Rental Clerks.

29. Data Scientists.

30. Personal Financial Advisors.

31. Archivists.

32. Economics Teachers, Postsecondary.

33. Web Developers.

34. Management Analysts.

35. Geographers.

36. Models.

37. Market Research Analysts.

38. Public Safety Telecommunicators.

39. Switchboard Operators.

40. Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary.

What are AI-safe jobs?

Jobs considered "AI-safe" are the ones least likely to be automated or drastically changed by generative AI.

They usually demand hands-on work, human connection, or specialised expertise that current AI systems can't easily reproduce.

Which jobs are least at risk of being replaced by AI?

Microsoft found that "the least-impacted occupations include occupations that require physically working with people, operating or monitoring machinery, and other manual labour".

Bottom 40 jobs least likely to be replaced by AI.

Here are the bottom 40 occupations with the lowest AI applicability score, according to Microsoft:

1. Phlebotomists (blood collection specialists).

2. Nursing Assistants.

3. Hazardous Materials Removal Workers.

4. Helpers–Painters, Plasterers.

5. Embalmers.

6. Plant and System Operators, All Other.

7. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (surgery on face, jaw, and mouth).

8. Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers.

9. Ship Engineers.

10. Tire Repairers and Changers.

11. Prosthodontists (specialist dentists for artificial teeth/dentures).

12. Helpers–Production Workers.

13. Highway Maintenance Workers.

14. Medical Equipment Preparers.

15. Packaging and Filling Machine Op.

16. Machine Feeders and Offbearers.

17. Dishwashers.

18. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers.

19. Supervisors of Firefighters.

20. Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators.

21. Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (assist eye doctors with tests/equipment).

22. Massage Therapists.

23. Surgical Assistants.

24. Tire Builders.

25. Helpers–Roofers.

26. Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Op.

27. Roofers.

28. Roustabouts, Oil and Gas.

29. Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners.

30. Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Op.

31. Logging Equipment Operators.

32. Motorboat Operators.

33. Orderlies.

34. Floor Sanders and Finishers.

35. Pile Driver Operators.

36. Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equip. Op.

37. Foundry Mold and Coremakers (create moulds for casting metal).

38. Water Treatment Plant and System Op.

39. Bridge and Lock Tenders ( (operate drawbridges/canal locks for ships).

40. Dredge Operators (run dredging machines to clear waterways).

What experts say about the future of work with AI.

Before you scramble to enrol in a phlebotomist course, or one of the other low-risk jobs, it's worth taking a step back.

While some roles may be more vulnerable than others, experts agree that AI will touch almost every job in some way, so the smartest move is to get ahead of the curve.

Also, new research from Jobs and Skills Australia suggests that AI is more likely to augment work than to replace it. Which is a good thing!

As the report explained, "Current Gen AI technologies are more likely to enhance workers' efforts in completing tasks, rather than replace them, especially in high-skilled occupations."

The potential for automation, it notes, is highest in routine clerical and administrative roles, jobs that involve predictable, repeatable tasks.

Despite the buzz around AI, the report also emphasises that "large-scale job displacement is yet to emerge, with current impacts limited to early-adopters."

In other words, while change is coming, it's not yet a mass exodus of roles.

That said, some roles may feel the shift more than others. Entry-level positions, in particular, "could be disproportionately affected." This is because entry-level often means doing the repetitive stuff — writing reports, doing research, data entry. All the stuff AI is good at that.

But this doesn't mean these jobs are disappearing. Instead, the report clarifies that there is likely to be "a shift in what entry-level work looks like," with new tasks requiring "more judgment and expertise in overseeing AI-generated outputs."

Essentially, AI may take over routine work, but humans will still be needed to guide, check, and improve what it produces.

How workers can future-proof their careers.

What's clear is that AI isn't going anywhere. Those robots are here to stay. But that doesn't mean humans are out of a job, it just means we need to focus on skills that AI can't easily replicate: creativity, judgment, and human connection.

Roles that require hands-on work, problem-solving, or overseeing AI outputs are likely to remain in demand.

Upskilling is also essential. That might mean learning how to use AI tools in your current role, gaining digital literacy, or deepening expertise in areas that rely on human insight and decision-making.

The key is learning to work with AI, rather than seeing it as a threat. Stay adaptable, stay curious, and (if worse comes to worst) maybe become a phlebotomist.

Feature Image: Getty