Why AI and Changing Lifestyles Are Making Unconventional Jobs the Future of Employment
Some time ago, the Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandjale, blamed the spread of education in the country for the high unemployment rate. We have far too many graduates, she added, in case you missed it the first time. This immediately caused a huge uproar on social media and among various liberal groups, with someone even suggesting that we should now have an UNEDUCATION policy. Come to think of it, however, she was not far from the truth.
AI generated representative image
In India, everyone who cannot migrate illegally to Trumpland wants to become a graduate. The country produces ten million graduates every year, most of whom (according to India Inc.) are unemployable.
This was further confirmed by a recent report stating that out of 263 applicants (all lawyers and civil judges) who appeared for an exam for the post of District Judge in Odisha, not one passed the qualifying test!
Adding to the problem is the lack of sufficient new jobs being created each year—even if we accept the government’s cooked-up figures.
This is why, according to the ILO Report (2024), the unemployment rate among graduates is ten times that of the uneducated. In India, the more educated you are, the lower your chances of finding a job!
We refuse to accept the laws of either economics or mathematics. Everyone wants a job as a babu in an office (hence the need to be a graduate), while hands-on skills are looked down upon as undignified “labour.” The “knowledge worker” is placed high above the “skilled worker.”
Yet, while the former spends their days idling at home or attending political rallies, it is almost impossible to find one of the latter when you need them—whether it’s an electrician, carpenter, plumber, paramedic, or driver.
Our cook, a smart young woman who chose to drop out after Plus Two and earn a respectable living rather than go to college and join the ranks of the unemployed, works for two hours a day and charges ₹8,000 per month per household. She works in four to five houses, making ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 per month—something even IIT graduates would be happy to receive these days! A mason in my village charges ₹1,000 per day—if you can get hold of one, that is!
And things are about to get much worse for graduates and white-collar workers with the advent of AI. The founder of Atomberg, Arindam Paul, predicts that 50-60% of white-collar jobs could be lost to AI in the coming years, effectively wiping out the middle class.
The infotech and high-tech firms have already fired tens of thousands of employees as a precursor to a much bigger bloodbath. The knowledge worker—whether a doctor, engineer, coder, data analyst, copywriter, or advertising executive—can be easily replaced by AI. AI software like Grok is even making doctors redundant.
On the other hand, skilled or blue-collar workers are irreplaceable—whether on the factory floor, in a mechanic’s shop, in your apartment, or selling momos on the street. These are the jobs and professions that will survive, as evidenced by the innovative start-ups being launched every day.
We have now entered the era of niche-based job creation, and those who possess the entrepreneurial spirit to explore these options will be the winners.
Dog Walker Mr Suresh Gore In Mumbai
My housing society now provides well-paying occupations that were unheard of even a decade ago—dog walkers (₹4,000 per house × 5 houses a day), dog groomers (₹1,000-1,500 per dog—almost the same amount Neerja pays for her monthly visits to Barbara’s or Trois Ne), pigeon net makers (₹12,000 for three balconies), and so on.
The smart individual will identify where demand for a product or service exists—and provide it, just as Swiggy, Amazon, and Blinkit have done on a much larger scale. I came across a couple of unlikely occupations during my readings, which I must share to illustrate how the job market is changing:
Sumadi Ibrahim served for 22 years as a Navy diver in Malaysia. Since his retirement 10 years ago, he has carved out a most unusual niche for himself—retrieving lost golf balls from the water hazards of golf courses outside Kuala Lumpur. He works three days a week, collects about 500 balls, and sells them back to the same guys who lost them! He makes RM 8,000 per month (₹1.6 lakh), which is three times what a worker in the formal sector earns. Jim Best, an ex-US Navy frogman, does the same on Florida’s golf courses, estimating that there are 70,000 golf balls waiting to be found—a small fortune for entrepreneurs like him!
MP govt decides to call unemployed as ‘aspirational youth’
Demand has created a new breed of workers in China—“pei pas” or climbing buddies—fit and athletic young men who assist outdoor tourists and trekking enthusiasts in climbing mountains, acting as guides and providing logistical and physical support. With millions of tourists opting for outdoor adventure, demand is booming.
A climbing buddy charges between USD 50-70 per trip and can make up to USD 2,000-3,000 per month—far more than the average monthly wage for office workers. Good-looking buddies can demand a higher price from single women or women’s groups!
Another new class of professionals has now emerged—consulting declutterers. The intergenerational passing down of possessions—furniture, cutlery, mementos, clothes, books, photos—has become an issue. The younger generation now has smaller flats, believes in minimalist lifestyles, moves frequently, and has no desire to hoard.
The handing-down older generation, on the other hand, values much of this stuff as family heirlooms and would like them to be retained for sentimental reasons. How to balance the two desires and needs? Enter the professional declutterer (at USD 125 per hour), who will talk to all parties, assess their emotional and physical needs, put a price on the items, and advise on their disposal. He or she is both a valuer and a psychological consultant.
As lifestyles change, technology reshapes the way we live, and new needs emerge, new job opportunities are replacing traditional white-collar office jobs. Those who are innovative, possess unconventional skills, and dare to be different are the ones who will prosper. As the Florida frogman told a reporter: “There’s a job somewhere for everyone.” He may as well have added: “Provided they’re willing to shed their white collars.” 
Courtesy: avayshukla.blogspot.com
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Also Read:
The Great Underwear Exodus
Avay Shukla
The author retired from the Indian Administrative Service in December 2010. A keen environmentalist and trekker, he writes on the environment, governance and social issues.
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