The word “automation” as it pertains to the job market has become something of a curse. Representing the demise of age-old vocations that at one time paid humans an honest wage, automation occurs naturally as technology improves.

And in the last decade technology has improved (and decreased in cost) at breakneck pace.

But according to a recent international Monster poll, a vast majority of workers don’t think automation will ever replace their jobs.

Sadly, time will probably prove that no job is 100 percent safe from automation, technology and more.

Below are five surprising jobs that are in danger of being automated in the near future — or are already seeing robots in their jobs.

Medical professionals

It’s hard to believe any machine could replace the delicate, expertly trained hands of a surgeon, but according to a variety of articles from the beginning of this decade, massive technological advancements in medicine could have an impact on medical professionals.

Slate had an interesting take on this in 2011. It examines the medical profession as one greatly impacted by technology over time, and like all other professions, the promising financials of an automated future can’t be ignored.

Barbers

This one is a surprise. How could anyone other than your trusted barber or stylist be responsible for getting your hair just right? And how will you develop that special relationship with a machine that could span decades like it does with your favorite barber?

Well, according to a 2013 Oxford study on job automation, barbers are at an exceptionally high risk of finding themselves losing their jobs to machines.

Just how automatable are barbers? The Oxford study ranked a variety of careers on a scale between 0 (not-computerisable) and 1 (computerisable). Barbers got a score of 0.8.

(Though, maybe we’re not there quite yet).

Bartenders

Say it ain’t so! Yep, the same 2013 Oxford study says bartenders have a high (77 percent) probability of being automated in the future. It’s another example of a job that’s at first difficult to picture being handed over to a machine but then somewhat easy to imagine.

Venture capitalists

No, machines of the future will not all of a sudden become savvy businesspeople able to better negotiate contracts than the crew found on “Shark Tank.” (They might, we have no proof one way or the other.) This speaks to the possibility that crowdfunding will disrupt this sector of the business world, and certainly in some ways it already has. (Anyone catch the last episode of HBO’s”Silicon Valley”?)

Bakers

Even the people who make our breads, cookies and cakes are not immune to the possibility that a robot could do the same and possibly better.

It’s not as big of a stretch as you’d think. Consider all of the shows on YouTube that show you how frozen food is prepared by machines for mass consumption. Plenty of the food purchased is processed, sorted and packaged by machines now. Could the future of baking be handed over to machines?

And while automation is on the horizon for these jobs, real human skills never go away and are often very transferable to new professions that are often enabled by the advent of tomorrow’s technology.

If you’re fearful you’re going to be automated out of a job, don’t worry, Monster has plenty of current jobs available that still require human skill, intuition and presence.

Screenshot by Intelligent Automation, Inc./YouTube

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Toni Frana Career Advice Expert

Toni Frana is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches, and career expert who empowers job seekers to take control of their career paths using Monster’s comprehensive job search and resume tools.

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