For years, a career in STEM was considered the golden ticket to financial stability and upward mobility. But that once-certain future is now in question. Amid mass layoffs, an unstable job market, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, a growing number of tech professionals are urging their children to reconsider the very path they once championed. From Silicon Valley to Boston, the message is clear: creativity, craftsmanship, and people skills may now offer more lasting value than coding ever could.
STEM Jobs May Be Becoming Obsolete
Dan Dumont, an engineering director at a software startup in Boston, recently turned to an AI assistant to help plan his children’s futures. To his surprise, the AI suggested prioritizing creativity and interpersonal abilities over technical know-how.
In his youth, Dumont chose university over a trade school. Although he has enjoyed success in tech, he now wonders whether his children would be better off pursuing skilled trades like contracting or electrical work.
Applied AI expert Jeannie Chung shared similar thoughts
