the jobs most exposed are ones that involve knowledge work—like people doing computer, math, or administrative work in an office, the researchers wrote. Sales jobs are also high on the list, since they often involve sharing and explaining information.

A degree won’t save you from AI’s jobs revolution. Many of the jobs with high chances of getting upended by AI soon, like political scientists, journalists, and management analysts, are all ones that typically require a four-year degree to land a job. And as the researchers point out, having a degree—which was once considered a surefire path to career advancement—is no longer a safeguard against the changing tides.

While hiring rates remained steady for those who earned less than $55,000 annually, it reached new lows for those who make over $96,000 according to a 2024 report from Vanguard. In 2023, hiring for middle- and top-third earning employees dwindled so much that the latter group reached the lowest level of hiring since 2014.

“While we don’t believe that there will be a massive upswing in demand for mid-level professional talent in the near future, we do believe there will be a steady stream of turnover and new additions driven by prolonged postponements and pent-up growth initiatives slowly being implemented,” adds DiStefano.

In the meantime, he suggests that middle-aged adults in the white-collar workforce stay fresh by networking, always having a contingency plan, and being up-to-date on their skills. The demand in this current market is for experts, not generalists, he adds.