© Shutterstock

What determines how susceptible a job is? - You have to think like a robot when it comes to this question. The more a job can be broken down into a series of routine, predictable tasks, the more likely it can be automated.

© Reuters

The jobs most at risk of being taken over - NPR created a guide that helps determine a job’s risk of being replaced based on how much it requires you to come up with clever solutions, personally help others, squeeze into small places, and negotiate.

© Shutterstock

Drivers - People have divided opinions about self-driving vehicles, but the fact is that Tesla has made huge leaps in the technology, Google’s self-driving test cars have driven thousands of miles without human intervention, and Uber already employed automated cars to pick up passengers.

© Shutterstock

Credit analysts - When it comes to plain math, robots with inbuilt, infallible computers and calculators can analyze credit data and financial statements with greater speed and accuracy.

© Shutterstock

Milling and planing machine setters/operators/tenders - Construction and carpentry jobs involving the use of milling or planing machines are increasingly being delegated to machines as they are quite task and routine-based.

© Shutterstock

Packaging and filling-machine operators/tenders - Factory jobs are particularly at risk, as robots can prepare products, put them in storage, as well as remove them for shipping without growing tired.

© Shutterstock

Procurement clerks - Also known as purchasing assistants or departmental buyers, this job processes purchase requests, gets price quotes, and places orders—all of which is very simple for machines to do over the internet.

© Shutterstock

Sports referees - A robot replacement could soon quiet fans everywhere. Technology has already been developed to replace umpires and referees, and these machines have the ability to immediately defend challenges and calls with the decisiveness of video proof.

© Shutterstock

Bank tellers - You probably didn’t think of the ATM as one of the robots capable of putting people out of jobs, but when was the last time you went to a teller?

© Shutterstock

Loan officers - Companies are already leaning towards a system of lending based on a strict algorithm, which identifies safe borrowers according to the cold, hard facts.

© Shutterstock

Timing-device assemblers and adjusters - Machines can now assemble, adjust, and calibrate timing devices more precisely than humans.

© Shutterstock

Tax preparers - Humans are fallible, especially when it comes to numbers, so automating the process of preparing tax returns could result in much fewer errors, plus the technology already exists.

© Shutterstock

Telemarketers - It’s already being done by robots today! They can not only make calls around the clock, but they can do so with the same high-level energy no matter how many people yell at them to stop calling.

© Shutterstock

The trends - Professions involving very specific data, straight-forward solutions to predictable problems, and little to no human relationships appear to be the jobs that robots are after. But fear not, there are still fulfilling, well-paid jobs that they can’t touch—yet.

© Shutterstock

The jobs that will survive and thrive - According to Workopolis, there are three key elements to jobs that will survive the robot invasion: STEM education, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Here are some of the highest-paid careers that are the least at risk of being automated.

© Shutterstock

Psychiatrists - Emotions, understanding, and empathy are things that automation has yet to interpret and deal with appropriately. Mental health and substance abuse social workers are also in the clear.

© Shutterstock

Physicians - Since unskilled labor will be hit hardest by automation, physicians’ science training and their emotional intelligence will reserve the job for humans. 

© Shutterstock

Dentists - Careers pertaining to human health (and vanity) look like very safe bets, and a dentist’s salary is sure to buy you some robots of your own.

© Shutterstock

University professors - Doing research and passing knowledge on requires a human touch, not to mention personal accountability for students to actually do the work!

© Shutterstock

Computer systems analysts - A computer systems analyst helps a company or other organization use computer technology effectively and efficiently, so it's essentially helping humans remain in control.

© Shutterstock

Director of food and nutrition services - Everyone has to eat! Except robots, of course. With the automation of our food industry, humans are likely going to need the nutrition help.

© Shutterstock

Mechanical engineers and technicians - This career combines engineering, physics, mathematics, and science to design and create mechanical systems, which is fortunately still out of reach for robots.

© Shutterstock

Robotics engineers and technicians - In an increasingly robotic world, it only makes sense that someone’s going to need to help make them and keep them running!

© Shutterstock

Therapists - In addition to having the training and emotional sensitivity that robots can’t (yet) acquire, therapists are probably going to be in increasing demand as the human population is introduced to more and more humanoids.

© Shutterstock

Registered nurses - Nurses develop complex relationships with patients, more than just providing the basic health care. 

© Shutterstock

Arts-related jobs - Though the pay varies, expressive creativity in fields like writing, visual art, design, and music is protected by virtue of the fact (however temporary) that robots lack imagination.

© Shutterstock

What about religious jobs? - Yes, even your relationship to a higher power can be automated. The Guardian reports that while the clergy only has a 0.81% probability of automation, there are already apps like Confession which offer “drop-down menus for tracking sin.”

© Shutterstock

Don’t be scared - There are so many jobs today that didn’t exist 10 years ago, and the same will be true 10 years from now. Discover which new jobs might exist in the future here.

© Shutterstock

Consider lending a helping hand - If you’re worried about frighteningly fast progression of technology, and perhaps its impact on our planet, check out the jobs that will make the world a better place.

© Shutterstock