How to defend your job from AI as thousands at risk of being made redundant – and even get a 34% pay rise

MILLIONS fear Artificial Intelligence could take their jobs – and older workers are among the most at risk. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) last month warned that AI is advancing faster than companies can retrain their staff, putting older workers in the danger zone. Don’t panic that AI will take your job as our tips and tricks can help Credit: Getty Here we explain how to protect yourself and even boost your pay packet Credit: Alamy It fears this could trigger a wave of early retirements. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! AI expert Ian Nicholas, global managing director at recruitment firm Reed, said the pace of change is “unbelievable”, but workers can use it to their advantage. Learning how to use AI could boost your career and your pay packet. Workers with AI skills earn 34% more on average, up from 11% in 2024, according to PwC. The average annual salary is £39,260 according to the ONS, so this would be equivalent to an increase of £13,348. Meanwhile, career coach Pamela Langan explains how you can stay competitive in a changing job market. Whatever your age, there are moves you can make to stay ahead. Most read in Money Here we explain the six steps you can take to AI-proof your career NOW. Don’t make snap decisions Don’t panic and take early retirement or leave your current job Credit: Alamy The dire warnings about AI’s impact on jobs can be hard to ignore, especially if you’re an older worker. But there’s no reason to panic or take early retirement. Pamela says: “People often come to me not ready to retire, but feeling they can’t compete in the current job market. “They feel like they don’t fit, especially when roles require AI knowledge. “But often they know a lot more about AI than they realise. They’ve probably already used it in their work but not labelled it as that.” Her advice is to keep a cool head and make a plan to AI-proof your career. Rather than seeing AI as an enemy, start thinking of it as a tool that can make you more valuable. Ian says: “Don’t panic and fear AI. Embrace it. Instead of thinking, ‘How is it going to replace me?’ think, ‘How can I use it?’” He adds that older workers may have more experience of adapting to technological change than they give themselves credit for. Those aged 45 and over have already had to learn how to use the internet and smartphones in the workplace. The same is possible with AI. Recognise the risks Figure out whether your job is actually at risk of AI and what you can do about it Credit: Alamy The first step is to understand whether your job is genuinely at risk from AI. Both Ian and Pamela suggest breaking your job down into the different tasks you carry out day to day. Ask yourself whether each task is repetitive. Is it data processing or does it require human skills or leadership? Pamela says: “If 80 or 90% of your job can be automated, then that puts you in the at-risk category. “But if it requires judgement calls, relationship management or there’s incomplete information that a human has to collect, that’s going to make that role more resilient in this AI world. “Once you get a good idea about how easy it would be to automate your job, then you can decide what to do about it.” Use it or lose it Try to learn how to use AI as it will put you in a stronger position later on Credit: Alamy Those who try to use AI at work will be in a stronger position than those who ignore it. It can help you streamline processes, increase efficiency, fast-track research, save money or make projects more effective. But it’s not necessarily straightforward to upskill. The CBI report said that support at work was “weak­est of all” for those late in their careers or approach­ing retire­ment. As a starting point, Ian suggests getting more comfortable with AI. “Let yourself experiment with it. Get to know it better, be more natural with it and understand how it works. Use it at home and see what it can do,” he says. An easy way to get started is to use AI assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT or Google Gemini. For example, you could practice by asking it to recommend recipes or use it to help you plan a holiday. You can use these tools by searching for them on Google then creating an account. At work, ask your boss about training that is relevant to your role and find out which AI tools are allowed by your employer and whether there are any restrictions on how you can use them. Ian adds: “Employers welcome people that embrace change, are flexible and have a willingness to learn.” If your company can’t help with training or you’re self-employed, look for short, targeted and practical courses in AI that relate to your area of work and will look good on your CV. Don’t know where to start? Pamela suggests asking AI itself. “Using AI to figure out what AI you need to learn sounds crazy, but it can be really effective. “Ask what the most useful things for you to learn are, based on your industry and job title. It will spell it out for you. Then you can tell it your budget.” Having AI skills on your CV will be a boost if you want to apply for a new role or bag a promotion. The World Economic Forum found that job applicants with AI-related skills can get a 23% higher salary than those without. You can find free AI courses at the Government’s AI Skills Hub at aiskillshub.org.uk, as well as at nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/find-a-course. Play to your strengths Think about the skills you have that can’t be replaced with AI Credit: Alamy While it’s crucial to learn about the parts of the job you can automate, it’s also important to strengthen the skills AI can’t replace. These are typically things like making judgement calls, strong leadership, decision-making and team-building. Ian says: “Think about trust, courage, creativity and curiosity. AI doesn’t have any of those things. “AI is not emotionally intelligent, but people are. There are plenty of skills it won’t replace.” Pamela believes that as companies focus on AI and tech, these other valuable skills risk getting pushed to one side. And that could be a bonus if you can build on your people skills. Climbing the career ladder, getting a promotion and making a success of a management role, where leadership and judgement are essential, could also help AI-proof your career. Pamela adds: “You don’t see organisations getting rid of amazing leaders that are driving the business forward and making a real impact.” Plot your plan B You could be in demand as a brickie, plumber or joiner Credit: Alamy If you’re panicking that AI is out to get your job, it’s tempting to leap into a different career. With 140,000 unfilled construction jobs and a million new workers needed by 2032, you’d certainly be in demand as a brickie, plumber or joiner, earning around £30,000 to £40,000 a year. But you’d need to train to get the right qualifications and hands-on experience, and older workers may find the physical work more draining. For other AI-resistant careers, such as nursing or teaching, where you’d initially earn around £32,000 a year, you may need a degree. That’s a big commitment of your time and money, especially later on in your career. You’d have to weigh up whether the cost was worth the benefit you’d get from training in something different. You may have to initially take a pay cut. A less risky route – and one recommended by Pamela and Ian – is to find an adjacent role, where you can make use of the skills and experience you already have. You could also learn additional skills to open up jobs where human judgement, relationships or responsibility remain crucial. Someone working in marketing, for example, could learn new skills to move into more of a sales role. One way to do this is to use tools such as LinkedIn Career Explorer, which maps your current skills to related job titles and gives you a similarity rating. Don’t waste time Build new skills now while you still have an income Credit: Getty Instead of waiting to see if AI takes your job, it makes sense to start building those skills while you still have an income. Pamela said: “If you suspect your job is at risk within the next five years, regardless of what your age is, start building your options now, while you’re still employed. “It’s easier to reskill from a position of security and positivity than doing it on the back foot, under pressure and with low confidence when you’ve been let go. “Always have your CV and LinkedIn up to date, ready for redundancy, because no job is guaranteed. “If redundancy comes up, it might still be a shock, but ultimately you’ll be ready to go.” How to get cash if you can't afford to retrain Don’t worry if you want to change careers but don’t want to take a pay cut or quit your job to retrain. You can still switch jobs by doing a training course at a college or university in your spare time. You could get help to cover the cost of a course with an Advanced Learner Loan. If you are over 19 then it works like a student loan and you will have to pay the money back when you earn £21,000 or more. The exact amount you will get depends on the cost of the course. But you could also apply for a bursary to help you with extra costs and you don’t have to pay this money back. For example, the Loan Bursary Fund can help you pay for childcare, travel costs and accommodation if you need to live far away for the course. You will need to apply for this money from your college or training provider as each one has their own application process. What you will get depends on the provider’s scheme and your situation. For more information visit gov.uk. Check out the Skills Bootcamp, which is a scheme that is run by the government. It offers free courses to help you learn new skills that employers are looking for – and you can complete them in just 16 hours a week. The courses are flexible, so you can fit them in around your job, family or other commitments. For more information, visit the Skills for Careers website. Comment now