Nursing Assistants, Phlebotomists Top AI-Proof Jobs—See Who’s Safe (and Who’s Not)

A groundbreaking Microsoft study examining AI's impact on various professions has delivered encouraging news for many healthcare workers. The research, analyzing over 200,000 real AI interactions, identified nursing assistants and phlebotomists as among the occupations least susceptible to automation by artificial intelligence technologies.

Phlebotomists and Nursing Assistants Least AI-Applicable Jobs

The study, which ranked jobs based on their "AI applicability" – how effectively current AI tools can perform tasks within each profession – placed phlebotomists at the very top of the "least AI-applicable" list, with nursing assistants following closely behind in the second position. This finding stands in stark contrast to many white-collar occupations that showed high vulnerability to AI automation.

"The physical nature of these healthcare roles creates a natural barrier against AI displacement," notes the Microsoft research team, highlighting that tasks requiring manual dexterity, tactile feedback, and physical presence remain firmly beyond current AI capabilities. For phlebotomists, the precision required to locate veins, insert needles correctly, and collect blood samples involves skills that AI simply cannot replicate in its current form.

Similarly, nursing assistants perform complex physical tasks like patient positioning, mobility assistance, vital sign monitoring, and personal care that demand both technical skill and human judgment. The moment-by-moment adaptability required when working with patients experiencing pain, anxiety, or changing medical conditions represents a significant challenge for automation.

Beyond the physical requirements, the Microsoft study emphasized that healthcare support roles demand sophisticated interpersonal skills that current AI technologies cannot match. Patient comfort, emotional support, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to build trust are essential components of effective care that remain uniquely human domains.

The regulatory environment surrounding healthcare creates additional barriers to AI replacement. Patient safety protocols, ethical standards of care, and liability concerns all reinforce the need for human oversight in direct patient care roles. As one researcher noted in the study, "The stakes are simply too high for fully automated solutions in these contexts."

40 Jobs Least Likely to Be Impacted by AI (Lowest AI Applicability Scores)

These occupations show the lowest overall AI applicability scores, meaning they are least likely to be replaced or heavily affected by AI, due to low automation potential or high human-touch requirements.

• Phlebotomists – 0.06 coverage, 137K employed
• Nursing Assistants – 0.07 coverage, 1.35M employed
• Hazardous Materials Removal Workers – 0.04 coverage, 50K employed
• Helpers – Painters, Plasterers – 0.04 coverage, 7.7K employed
• Embalmers – 0.07 coverage, 3.4K employed
• Other Plant & System Operators – 0.05 coverage, 15K employed
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons – 0.05 coverage, 4.2K employed
• Auto Glass Installers & Repairers – 0.04 coverage, 16K employed
• Ship Engineers – 0.05 coverage, 8.9K employed
• Tire Repairers and Changers – 0.04 coverage, 101K employed
• Prosthodontists – 0.10 coverage, 570 employed
• Helpers – Production Workers – 0.04 coverage, 182K employed
• Highway Maintenance Workers – 0.03 coverage, 151K employed
• Medical Equipment Preparers – 0.04 coverage, 67K employed
• Packaging and Filling Machine Operators – 0.04 coverage, 372K employed
• Machine Feeders and Offbearers – 0.05 coverage, 45K employed
• Dishwashers – 0.03 coverage, 464K employed
• Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers – 0.03 coverage, 204K employed
• Firefighter Supervisors – 0.04 coverage, 84K employed
• Industrial Truck & Tractor Operators – 0.03 coverage, 779K employed
• Ophthalmic Medical Technicians – 0.04 coverage, 73K employed
• Massage Therapists – 0.10 coverage, 93K employed
• Surgical Assistants – 0.03 coverage, 19K employed
• Tire Builders – 0.03 coverage, 20K employed
• Helpers – Roofers – 0.02 coverage, 4.5K employed
• Gas Compressor & Pumping Station Operators – 0.01 coverage, 4.4K employed
• Roofers – 0.02 coverage, 135K employed
• Roustabouts, Oil and Gas – 0.02 coverage, 44K employed
• Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners – 0.02 coverage, 836K employed
• Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equip. Operators – 0.01 coverage, 43K employed
• Logging Equipment Operators – 0.01 coverage, 24K employed
• Motorboat Operators – 0.01 coverage, 2.7K employed
• Orderlies – 0.00 coverage, 49K employed
• Floor Sanders and Finishers – 0.00 coverage, 5.1K employed
• Pile Driver Operators – 0.00 coverage, 3.0K employed
• Rail-Track Laying and Maint. Equip. Operators – 0.00 coverage, 19K employed
• Foundry Mold and Coremakers – 0.00 coverage, 12K employed
• Water Treatment Plant & System Operators – 0.00 coverage, 120K employed
• Bridge and Lock Tenders – 0.00 coverage, 3.5K employed
• Dredge Operators – 0.00 coverage, 940 employed

Top 40 Jobs Most Affected by AI (High AI Applicability Scores)

In striking contrast, the Microsoft analysis revealed that many traditional white-collar jobs face significant disruption. Topping the list include,

• Translators 
• Writers 
• Customer service representatives 
• Sales professionals 

These roles primarily focused on information processing and communication, domains where large language models like Microsoft's own Copilot already demonstrate impressive capabilities.

The research suggests that up to half of entry-level white-collar positions could see substantial transformation through AI automation. Jobs related to the following list appear particularly vulnerable as AI tools become increasingly sophisticated at handling text-based tasks. 

• Research
• Content creation
• Data analysis 
• Routine communication 

Jobs with the highest likelihood of being impacted by AI, based on a combined analysis of coverage, complexity, scope, and overall AI applicability score:

 

• Interpreters and Translators – 98% coverage, 51K employed
• Historians – 91% coverage, 3.4K employed
• Passenger Attendants – 80% coverage, 20K employed
• Sales Reps of Services – 84% coverage, 1.14M employed
• Writers and Authors – 85% coverage, 49K employed
• Customer Service Reps – 72% coverage, 2.86M employed
• CNC Tool Programmers – 90% coverage, 28K employed
• Telephone Operators – 80% coverage, 4.6K employed
• Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks – 71% coverage, 119K employed
• Broadcast Announcers and Radio DJs – 74% coverage, 25K employed
• Brokerage Clerks – 74% coverage, 48K employed
• Farm/Home Management Educators – 77% coverage, 8K employed
• Telemarketers – 66% coverage, 81K employed
• Concierges – 70% coverage, 41K employed
• Political Scientists – 77% coverage, 5.6K employed
• News Analysts, Reporters, Journalists – 81% coverage, 45K employed
• Mathematicians – 91% coverage, 2.2K employed
• Technical Writers – 83% coverage, 48K employed
• Proofreaders/Copy Markers – 91% coverage, 5.5K employed
• Hosts and Hostesses – 60% coverage, 425K employed
• Editors – 78% coverage, 95K employed
• Business Teachers, Postsecondary – 70% coverage, 83K employed
• Public Relations Specialists – 63% coverage, 275K employed
• Demonstrators and Product Promoters – 64% coverage, 51K employed
• Advertising Sales Agents – 66% coverage, 108K employed
• New Accounts Clerks – 72% coverage, 41K employed
• Statistical Assistants – 85% coverage, 7.2K employed
• Counter/Rental Clerks – 62% coverage, 390K employed
• Data Scientists – 77% coverage, 192K employed
• Personal Financial Advisors – 69% coverage, 272K employed
• Archivists – 66% coverage, 7.1K employed
• Economics Teachers, Postsecondary – 68% coverage, 12K employed
• Web Developers – 73% coverage, 85K employed
• Management Analysts – 68% coverage, 838K employed
• Geographers – 77% coverage, 1.4K employed
• Models – 64% coverage, 3.1K employed
• Market Research Analysts – 71% coverage, 846K employed
• Public Safety Telecommunicators – 66% coverage, 98K employed
• Switchboard Operators – 68% coverage, 43K employed
• Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary – 65% coverage, 4.2K employed

 

Could AI Be a Tool For Healthcare Professionals? 

For nursing professionals and healthcare workers, the study validates the irreplaceable nature of their skills while suggesting a future where AI serves as a complementary tool rather than a replacement. Microsoft researchers noted that healthcare professionals already report time savings from AI assistance with documentation, research, and administrative tasks – allowing more focus on direct patient care.

It's worth noting that the Microsoft study examined current AI capabilities rather than predicting future developments. As AI and robotics continue to evolve, the landscape may shift. However, the fundamental human elements of healthcare support roles – combining technical skill, emotional intelligence, and professional judgment – suggest these positions will remain among the most resistant to automation for the foreseeable future.

For nursing students and professionals considering career paths, this research provides valuable perspective on the enduring value of direct patient care skills in an increasingly AI-influenced workplace. While administrative healthcare roles may face greater disruption, those on the front lines of patient care appear well-positioned to weather the AI revolution.

🤔Nurses, share your thoughts in the discussion forum below!