Double salary, same job: Nvidia’s Jensen Huang says one career path will benefit most in AI era. It's not IT roles

The idea that high-paying careers only come from office jobs or software roles is being challenged as artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has said the next wave of six-figure salaries will come from skilled trade roles linked to the massive buildout of AI infrastructure, not just from coding or white-collar work. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Huang described the AI-driven expansion as a historic moment for employment, especially for people working with their hands to build the systems powering the technology.

At WEF, Huang explained that the global push to build data centres, chip plants and so-called AI factories represents the largest infrastructure expansion ever seen. According to him, this boom is already creating strong demand for plumbers, electricians, construction workers, steel workers, network technicians and equipment installers. He pointed out that these roles are critical to setting up the physical backbone of AI and are seeing rapid pay growth as companies compete for limited talent.

Huang noted that wages in this segment have risen sharply and are close to doubling in some cases. As a result, people involved in building chip factories, computer factories and AI facilities are now earning salaries that cross the six-figure mark. His remarks were reported by CNBC from Davos.

Job loss fears grow as AI reshapes white-collar work

Concerns around AI-driven job losses dominated discussions at WEF this year. Data from consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed that AI was linked to nearly 55,000 job cuts in the US in 2025 alone, as cited in its December report. Companies such as Amazon, Salesforce, Accenture and Lufthansa have publicly said AI played a role in recent layoffs.

International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva warned at WEF that AI is hitting labour markets rapidly and that many countries and businesses are unprepared for the pace of change, according to CNBC.

Blue-collar roles seen as safer from automation

Despite fears around automation, research from Microsoft suggests that blue-collar jobs may be more resilient than many office roles. In a 2025 study analysing around 200,000 interactions with Microsoft Bing Copilot between January and September 2024, the company found that workers doing physical tasks were least likely to rely on AI tools. These roles included phlebotomists, painters, plasterers, helpers and ship engineers.

The findings indicate that jobs involving physical skill, unpredictable environments and hands-on work are harder to automate with current AI systems.

European Commission executive vice president Roxana Mînzatu also stressed the value of vocational education while speaking to CNBC at WEF. She said the semiconductor industry alone is looking for around 75,000 vocationally trained workers, including technicians and specialised trade professionals. Mînzatu expressed confidence that younger generations can adapt and gain the skills needed, even as AI changes entry-level hiring patterns.

Rising education costs are also influencing career choices. CNBC Make It calculations showed that the cost of attending a four-year, in-state public college in the US rose by about 30% between 2011 and 2023. Economist Nich Tremper of payroll platform Gusto told CNBC Make It that there are around two million fewer students enrolled in traditional four-year universities compared to 2011.

According to the US Department of Labor, Gen Z made up 18% of the workforce in early 2024. Data from Gusto showed that this group accounted for nearly 25% of new hires in skilled trade roles during the same period, signalling a clear shift in how young workers view stable, high-paying careers in the age of AI.