Teenagers and young adults in the UK are increasingly choosing hands-on careers—plumbing, electrical work, construction—over office jobs. In 2024, City of Westminster College in London saw a 9.6% jump in enrollments for engineering and construction courses over three years. The reason? Artificial intelligence is shaking up the job market, and young people don’t want to risk losing office jobs to algorithms. This shift isn’t limited to the capital—colleges nationwide report similar trends. Construction courses now have waitlists, and demand is outpacing supply. “I chose plumbing because I figured AI won’t be taking over here anytime soon,” says Maryna Yaroshenko, an 18-year-old student from Ukraine [1][3].
AI Won’t Replace a Plumber
Employers are blunt about the outlook. In a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, one in six UK employers plans to cut jobs due to AI within the next year. A quarter expect to lay off more than 10% of their staff. Office and administrative roles—typically held by younger workers—are most at risk, with 62% of companies pointing to these positions. Private corporations are sounding the alarm: 26% of large businesses anticipate workforce reductions because of AI [2][3][5][6].
What’s Driving the Career Shift
Among 25- to 35-year-olds, 62% say they’re worried about their career prospects in the face of AI. For all UK adults, that figure is 51%. Anxiety about job loss is shaping education choices. In the 2023/24 academic year, the number of new university students in the UK dropped by 1%—the first decline in almost a decade [1][4][5].
Geoffrey Hinton, Nobel laureate and AI pioneer, has weighed in on the shift. “A good bet would be to become a plumber,” he remarked on a podcast. He believes AI still needs years to match humans in tasks requiring dexterity and strength. Stephen Davis, principal of City of Westminster College, points out that skilled trades offer not just stability, but also the potential to run your own business. The numbers back this up: according to the Office for National Statistics, the average UK plumber earns £37,881 a year, while a qualified construction worker makes £35,764 [7][8][9].