Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

Mike Rowe Says the Dirtiest Jobs Are Safe From the AI Revolution: 'I Haven't Seen Any Plumbing Robots' The "Dirty Jobs" host predicts that "prosperity" may come to those who work with their hands as AI comes for desk jobs.

By Sam Silverman

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Mike Rowe thinks "dirty" jobs are safe from the rise of artificial intelligence, as people begin to fear the latest advancements in technology will replace human workers.

The host of "Dirty Jobs" and "How America Works" said there's no getting away from the growth of AI in the workplace during an appearance on "The Big Money Show." However, he said, blue-collar workers have the luxury of relying on skill sets that are difficult to digitally replicate.

"People used to say that the robots are going to destroy skilled labor. Well, not really," he said at the time. "I haven't seen any plumbing robots. I haven't seen any electrician robots. And I don't think we're going to see any artificial intelligence in the skilled trades to that degree. You can't stop it. All you can do is decide to freak out completely or not."

RELATED: Getting Dirty With Mike Rowe

Rowe's sentiments echo the findings of a March Goldman Sachs report, which predicts that 300 million jobs worldwide are at risk of being replaced by automation. The report found that administrative workers have the highest risk of being replaced by digital resources, but jobs that require manual labor and outdoor tasks will feel "little effect" by AI growth in those industries.

"I've been hearing for years that robots are going to wreck blue-collar work. Turns out AI is coming for your white-collar job," Rowe said during a separate appearance on "America's Newsroom."

RELATED: Why Mike Rowe Says It Can Be Scary to Follow Your Passion

Rowe started the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to advocate for skilled laborers and break the stigma around skilled workers in 2008 and has since given away $5 million through his Work Ethic Scholarship Program that trains people for in-demand, skilled jobs.

"My foundation has trained nearly 1700 people in the skilled trades. Many of them are welders, many of those welders are making over six figures. No one believes it. No one talks about it because the stigmas are so clear that, oh, my kid winds up being a welder, it's because he or she couldn't cut it over here. That's such nonsense," he said on the show.

"For people who master a skill that's in demand and watch their trajectory, you're going to find they land at something that looks an awful lot like prosperity," he added.

Sam Silverman

Content Strategy Editor

Sam Silverman is a content strategy editor at Entrepreneur Media. She specializes in search engine optimization (SEO), and her work can be found in The US Sun, Nicki Swift, In Touch Weekly, Life & Style and Health. She writes for our news team with a focus on investigating scandals. Her coverage and expertise span from business news, entrepreneurship, technology, and true crime, to the latest in entertainment and TV news. Sam is a graduate of Lehigh University and currently resides in NYC. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

You Have One Month Left to Buy a House, According to Barbara Corcoran. Here's Why.

"If you are planning on waiting a year and seeing where interest rates go, you are out of your mind," Corcoran said.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Growing a Business

The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting

All too often, meetings run longer than they should and fail to keep attendees engaged. Here's how to run a meeting the right way.

Thought Leaders

These 3 Trends Will Change What It Means to Be an Entrepreneur in 2025

Here are three entrepreneurship trends from the new Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report that are changing the landscape for the future.

Social Media

Stop Chasing Algorithms — Here's How Creators Can Take Control of Their Content and Monetize on Their Own Terms

Social media platforms promise creators visibility, but the real challenge lies in relying on algorithms for income.

Side Hustle

I Made $14,000 in 1 Week With a Spontaneous Halloween Costume Side Hustle — Here's How

Sabba Keynejad was in art school when he started to refine his entrepreneurial skills.