Latest news with #DanRoccato
USA Today
3 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Jobs that don't need a college degree − and won't be replaced by AI
Jobs that don't need a college degree − and won't be replaced by AI Show Caption Hide Caption Gray collar jobs: Tips for making money without a college degree Dan Roccato, a professor at the University of San Diego, talks about the importance of gray collar jobs and how you can make money even without a college degree. Fox - 32 Chicago If you think most Americans finish college, think again. Going to college is an American rite of passage. But not everyone goes to college, and many students never make it to graduation. Among Americans ages 25 and over, only 38% are college graduates, according to the Education Data Initiative. A new report from the resume-writing service Resume Now identifies 13 careers that offer good pay and long-term stability and that don't require a college degree. Better still, none of the jobs are likely to be replaced by AI. The analysis 'focused on three or four fears that people have right now,' said Keith Spencer, a career expert at Resume Now. Americans worry about signs of a softening job market. They're concerned about the cost of college, and whether a degree is still worth it. And employees in many fields fear that AI – or robots, or other nonhuman hands – might sweep in to replace them. Despite the slow creep of automation, many fields still require the human touch. To build out this list, Resume Now found careers that require only a high school diploma, that pay at least $50,000 a year, and that represent growing fields with high-demand skills. The report draws on Bureau of Labor Statistics data. 'They sort of all have some similarities, in terms of the need for significant human interaction,' Spencer said. 'Maybe they require manual dexterity in unpredictable environments, or high levels of creativity.' The list comes in two parts: jobs with relatively low AI risk, and positions with 'moderate' AI risk, based on the need for human decision-making, manual labor, personal interactions and other factors. Some of the jobs listed below require 'a level of relevant experience,' Resume Now reports. But none, apparently, requires a college degree. Here's the list, including job descriptions for less familiar positions, and median salaries for all. Jobs with low AI risk According to Resume Now, these careers offer a good income and strong job security because they require skills that go well beyond the capabilities of AI. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists Job description: Judge fire hazards, investigate wildfire causes and enact prevention strategies. Why they're AI-resistant: Fire prevention requires humans in the field and cannot be entirely automated. Median pay: $71,420 a year Flight attendants Why they're AI-resistant: AI can't serve meals. In-flight customer service requires a human touch. Median pay: $68,370 a year Lodging managers Job description: Think 'The White Lotus.' Oversee lodging operations, manage the staff and keep the guests happy. Why they're AI-resistant: AI can't unclog a guestroom toilet. You need people to provide the personal touch. Median pay: $65,360 a year Electricians Why they're AI-resistant: AI can't install your chandelier. Electrical work requires a human presence. Median pay: $61,590 a year Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters Job description: Plumbers install and service water and gas systems in homes and businesses. Why they're AI-resistant: Plumbing is unpredictable work. AI-controlled robots could handle some of it but not all. Median pay: $61,550 a year Industrial machinery mechanics Job description: Maintain mechanical systems in industrial workplaces. Why they're AI-resistant: AI would struggle with the real-time problem-solving demands of the work. Median pay: $61,170 a year Chefs and head cooks Why they're AI-resistant: AI can't taste the soup. Recipe development and food prep require a creative touch. Median pay: $58,920 a year Hearing aid specialists Job description: Work with hearing aids and provide patient care. Why they're AI-resistant: AI can't handle the hands-on requirements of the job. Median pay: $58,670 Personal service managers Job description: Oversee wellness programs, event planning or luxury concierge services. Why they're AI-resistant: The work requires personal interactions, emotional intelligence and decision-making that AI cannot handle. Median pay: $57,570 Jobs with moderate AI risk These careers involve tasks that eventually could be automated, Resume Now reports. But, for now, they still rely on human judgment and adaptability. Maintenance workers, machinery Job description: Close cousins to the industrial machinery mechanic, listed above, machinery maintenance workers perform routine upkeep on industrial machinery. Why they're AI-resistant: Complex repairs require real-time problem-solving by humans. Median pay: $61,170 a year Insurance sales agents Why they're AI-resistant: AI can handle some underwriting tasks, but this career requires personal service. Median pay: $59,080 a year Aircraft cargo handling supervisors Why they're AI-resistant: AI can handle some aircraft cargo tasks, but you need human supervisors to handle the unexpected. Median pay: $58,920 Security and fire alarm systems installers Why they're AI-resistant: Installing and troubleshooting security and fire systems requires humans. Median pay: $56,430 a year
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
San Diego city councilmember proposes $25 minimum wage for tourism workers
(Above: Dan Roccato, a finance professor at University of San Diego, discusses recent inflation numbers) SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Thousands of tourism and hospitality workers could see a boost in their paychecks as early as next year if the San Diego City Council passes a proposal to raise their minimum wage. On Thursday, the Select Committee on Addressing Cost of Living will meet for the first time since its inception. The committee was established late last year to focus specifically on issues related to the cost of living in San Diego. Gaylord Pacific Resort in Chula Vista hiring hundreds for 2025 opening Among the topics the members are set to discuss at their first meeting is a $25 minimum wage for tourism workers proposed by councilmember and committee chair Sean Elo-Rivera. The city first introduced a minimum wage ordinance in 2016 at $10.50 for all employees working within its geographic boundaries. Currently, the city's hourly minimum wage is $17.25 — higher than California's statewide minimum at $16.50, but not enough to meet the city's high cost of living. According to a staff report for the proposed minimum wage increase, many workers who contribute to San Diego's booming tourism sector are 'forced to seek subsidized, affordable housing, which is extremely limited, and apply for CalFresh to afford food.' California to track homelessness spending, compliance with new website 'Their labor is what creates the value that drives corporate profits and that provides the foundation for our local economy,' the report added. 'Local hotel cleaners, event staff, and janitors are who serve visitors and they are what makes the tourism industry possible.' If passed, the ordinance would increase the minimum wage each year based on the rising cost of living in San Diego as measured by the U.S. Department of Labor. According to the latest data for the San Diego-Carlsbad area from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2023, janitors made a median hourly wage of $17.60 and housekeepers made about $18.67. Hotel, motel and resort desk clerks made a median hourly wage of $17.75. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Living Wage Calculator indicates a single-person household would need to make at least $30.71 an hour in San Diego County to support themselves while working full-time. The proposed ordinance is meant to help benefit San Diegans who play a direct role in making the city a major tourism destination, especially as the cost of living continues to increase. Just last month, the rate of inflation in San Diego hit its highest point in a year, reflecting worsening price changes seen nationwide. Food and housing are among the top areas of concern. San Diego was listed as one of the five least affordable major metros in the U.S. in 2024. by Redfin last month. That same report stated someone making the median income would have to spend more than 67% of their earnings on monthly housing costs for a median-priced home in the area. If passed, the minimum wage ordinance would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
