The warnings from leaders in the field of artificial intelligence are deeply unsettling, especially for young people planning their educational futures. In an interview on CNN, Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic and former Vice President of Research at OpenAI, told Anderson Cooper that within one to five years, AI could eliminate up to 50 percent of jobs and push unemployment as high as 20 percent.
Amodei also noted that college graduates are likely to be significantly affected. Recent graduates may be in one of the most vulnerable positions, as many entry-level jobs that existed just a few years ago are now being replaced by AI. Independent journalist Brian Merchant echoed these concerns in a May post on their Substack, highlighting troubling trends in the labor market that suggest job opportunities for younger workers may already be shrinking. Unemployment among this demographic has been rising since 2015. While some of this is due to pandemic-related disruptions, the trend has continued even as many of those issues have subsided.
In the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are roughly 10 occupations that do not require a college degree and offer a median income above $100,000. Of those 10, 3—nuclear power reactor operators, power distributors and dispatchers, and electrical and electronics repairers—are projected to experience either a decline in job numbers or slower growth compared to other fields.
High School Diploma:
- Nuclear power reactor operators - $122,610
- Power distributors and dispatchers - $103,600
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers - $106,580
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers - $102,010
Post-Secondary Non-College:
- Commercial pilots - $198,100
- Ship engineers - $101,320
- Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay - $100,940
Associate Degree:
- Air traffic controllers - $137,380
- Nuclear technicians - $104,240 per year
- Radiation therapists - $101,990 per year
Is a college degree worth it?
For those considering whether a college degree is still worth pursuing, the answer is likely yes. On average, individuals with a college degree earn about 68 percent more than those with only a high school diploma. Beyond financial returns, higher education can offer personal growth and opportunities that extend beyond the job market. However, as tuition costs continue to rise, these benefits may not always outweigh the significant economic burden. The debate over who should attend college, what they should study, and what the true value of a degree is has become increasingly polarized.