For years, people have assumed that the safest careers lie behind desks and degrees, but in the age of artificial intelligence, that assumption is being challenged.

In recent months, experts have been pointing to skilled trades, especially plumbing, as some of the most secure jobs for the future and among the last to be replaced by machines.

Tradespeople, like plumbers, will be essential in building the infrastructure needed for technological expansion, growing the demand for this type of work. But as this work needs a physical skill, it remains difficult to automate.

In addition to the cost of university education which continues to rise, we may find the conversation for future careers begins to change. Instead of focusing solely on academic pathways, many are weighing the pros and cons of higher education against vocational careers.

Training organisations are already seeing the impact. City & Guilds, a major provider of vocational qualifications in the UK, has reported a noticeable increase in people pursuing plumbing certifications, with completed apprenticeships nearly doubling in the year to October 2025. Yet despite this surge, demand for skilled workers still exceeds supply.

Even so, attitudes toward vocational careers remain complicated. Social perceptions continue to play a role, with both younger people and their parents often viewing academic education as more prestigious than vocational training.

Ultimately, while plumbing and other trades are increasingly seen as ‘future-proof’ they are not an ‘easy’ option and the stigma that surrounds the trades needs to shift. As AI continues to reshape the job market, society may need to rethink what success looks like and recognise that valuable, secure careers can exist beyond the traditional academic route.