Will AI take your job? If you've asked Google that question, you're not alone — thousands of Americans have done it. Across the United States, growing anxiety about automation, burnout, and economic pressure are reshaping how Americans think about work.
Some white-collar workers are eyeing the trades as a more stable, hands-on alternative to corporate life. At the same time, many blue-collar workers are setting their sights on office jobs that offer better pay and flexibility. Using survey responses from 1,000 employees and search trends from all 50 states, this report explores how fear, fatigue, and future uncertainty are fueling a surprising career swap.
Key Takeaways
- Vermont, Rhode Island, and Alaska show the highest per capita concern for AI-related job anxiety in the U.S.
- Washington, Oregon, and Rhode Island lead in per capita searches for blue-collar job interest.
- 12% of white-collar workers have recently switched or are actively planning to move into a trade.
- 39% of blue-collar workers have recently switched or are eyeing a switch to white-collar work.
- 43% of white-collar workers worry that AI or automation could replace their jobs. On average, they think it could happen within 9 years.
- 48% of white-collar workers say trade jobs seem like an appealing escape from corporate burnout.
Where AI Fear Meets Career Change
American workers across industries are anxious about what automation means for their future. Search trends reveal where people are most worried about losing jobs to AI and where interest in blue-collar careers is rising as a possible escape.
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States with the highest searches for AI-related job anxiety per capita:
- Vermont
- Rhode Island
- Alaska
- Wyoming
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Delaware
- New Hampshire
- Montana
- Maine
Top 10 cities most concerned about AI job anxiety per capita:
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Miami, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- Seattle, Washington
- San Francisco, California
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Denver, Colorado
- Portland, Oregon
Bottom 10 cities least concerned about AI job anxiety per capita:
- Houston, Texas
- Phoenix, Arizona
- San Antonio, Texas
- Los Angeles, California
- Jacksonville, Florida
- El Paso, Texas
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Chicago, Illinois
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- San Diego, California
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States with the highest searches for blue-collar job interest per capita:
- Washington
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Colorado
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Nevada
- Wyoming
- Massachusetts
- Utah
Top 10 cities with the highest searches for blue-collar job interest per capita:
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Seattle, Washington
- Denver, Colorado
- Portland, Oregon
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Sacramento, California
- Miami, Florida
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Baltimore, Maryland
Bottom 10 cities with the lowest searches for blue-collar job interest per capita:
- New York, New York
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- San Antonio, Texas
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Mesa, Arizona
- Oakland, California
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Interestingly, several states and cities that rank high for AI-related job anxiety also show elevated interest in blue-collar careers. Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming appear on both top-10 state lists, while cities like Atlanta, Minneapolis, Portland, and Seattle rank among the most concerned about AI and the most curious about trade jobs.
While the data doesn't confirm causation, the overlap suggests that in some regions, rising anxiety about automation may be fueling curiosity about hands-on, less automatable work.
Why White-Collar Workers Are Considering a Shift to the Trades
As automation accelerates and corporate burnout rises, many white-collar workers are rethinking what job security really means. For some, trade jobs appear to offer a more stable alternative, with better work-life balance, less screen time, and an escape from the uncertainty of office life.
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Top 3 white-collar industries considering switching to blue-collar work:
- Media
- Marketing
- Healthcare
Key findings among white-collar workers:
- 43% worry AI or automation could replace their job, estimating it could happen within 9 years, on average.
- Over half (52%) believe trade jobs are more secure than white-collar roles in the age of AI and automation.
- 12% have recently switched or are actively planning to move into a blue-collar job, with better work-life balance (46%) and better job security (44%) driving their interest.
- Over 2 in 5 (41%) feel burned out, and nearly 1 in 2 (48%) see trade jobs as an appealing escape from corporate burnout.
- About 1 in 3 (32%) feel trapped in their current job or disconnected (34%), and even more (44%) feel undervalued.
- 56% feel anxious about the future, and interestingly, the same percentage feel hopeful.
- Others currently feel stable (56%), excited (44%), and energized (38%).
The data paints a picture of a white-collar workforce in transition. They're burned out, anxious, and increasingly open to career changes once seen as unconventional.
While only 12% are actively making the move, nearly half see trade jobs as a way out. It's a shift driven as much by emotion as by economics, with AI uncertainty amplifying deeper frustrations around corporate culture, job security, and feeling undervalued.
How Blue-Collar Workers Feel About Their Jobs and the Future
Blue-collar workers aren't immune to the pressures of a changing job market. While many still feel their roles are more secure than white-collar jobs, others are reconsidering their career path, driven by burnout, physical strain, and the promise of better pay or perks in corporate roles.
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Top 3 blue-collar industries considering switching to white-collar work:
- Energy
- Retail
- Construction
Key findings among blue-collar workers:
- 27% worry that AI or automation could replace their job, estimating it could happen within 11 years, on average.
- 42% feel trade jobs are misunderstood or romanticized by people outside the industry.
- 53% believe their jobs are more secure than white-collar roles in the age of AI and automation, but 1 in 4 are concerned a humanoid robot could eventually replace their job.
- While 55% say they feel stable, others feel burned out (44%), undervalued (43%), disconnected (24%), or trapped in their current job (23%).
- 39% have switched to white-collar work or are planning to, with better pay or benefits (70%) and better work-life balance (65%) driving their interest.
- Over half (56%) feel anxious about the future, but many others feel hopeful (63%), excited (46%), and energized (43%) about what's ahead.
- While many blue-collar workers feel stable, the desire for change is real. But it's driven less by AI fear and more by a search for better pay, benefits, and work-life balance. Burnout and undervaluation still run high, and nearly 2 in 5 are eyeing a move to white-collar roles.
At the same time, 42% believe their work is often misunderstood or romanticized, suggesting that career switchers from the corporate world may not fully grasp the demands of blue-collar life.
A Workforce on the Move
Across industries, American workers are rethinking what a "good job" looks like. White-collar professionals in fields like media, marketing, and healthcare are eyeing the trades for greater job stability and a break from burnout. Meanwhile, blue-collar workers in energy, retail, and construction are exploring corporate roles in search of better pay, benefits, and work-life balance.
This two-way movement reflects more than just economic trends. It speaks to growing uncertainty, shifting values, and a desire for more control in an unpredictable job market. With AI anxiety and workplace dissatisfaction affecting many Americans, the line between white- and blue-collar careers is becoming more fluid. In a world where no job feels future-proof, adaptability may be the most valuable skill of all.
Methodology
We surveyed 1,000 white-collar and blue-collar workers to learn how automation, AI, and economic instability are reshaping career decisions in the U.S.
We also analyzed Google Trends search volume data from January 2024 to March 2025 to determine which U.S. cities and states are experiencing the highest anxiety about job loss due to AI and automation. Our analysis included 122 search terms related to AI-driven job displacement and career shifts to blue-collar roles. We tracked these trends across all 50 states and the 50 most populous cities. To ensure reliability, only keywords showing a consistent upward trend during the study period were included. We then ranked the top trending searches per location using a per capita adjustment to spotlight significant deviations in search interest.
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