High Risk, Few Exit Paths

Mobility research finds that displacement pressure only becomes hardship when workers lack credible adjacent moves (del Rio-Chanona et al. 2021; IMF 2024). Of 165 occupations above the displacement threshold, these 42 have the weakest exit options: their best risk-reducing transition falls in the bottom quarter of exit scores within the high-risk cohort (≤64% match). For high-risk occupations with strong escape routes, see Best Transitions.

Secretary SSOC 41201

63% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Material planning clerk

moderate · 62% match

Travel consultant/Reservation executive

moderate · 59% match

Stock records clerk

moderate · 57% match

Office clerk (including filing and copying) SSOC 41101

60% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Stock records clerk

moderate · 63% match

Travel consultant/Reservation executive

moderate · 61% match

Material planning clerk

moderate · 61% match

Pawnbroker SSOC 42131

58% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Travel consultant/Reservation executive

moderate · 63% match

Money changer

moderate · 61% match

Material planning clerk

moderate · 61% match

Postman SSOC 44122

55% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Proofreading clerk

moderate · 62% match

Stock records clerk

moderate · 61% match

Travel consultant/Reservation executive

moderate · 60% match

Proofreading clerk SSOC 44191

52% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Material planning clerk

moderate · 59% match

Travel consultant/Reservation executive

moderate · 56% match

Stock records clerk

moderate · 54% match

Bill collector SSOC 42141

51% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Travel consultant/Reservation executive

moderate · 64% match

Money changer

moderate · 62% match

Bank teller

moderate · 60% match

Database architect SSOC 25212

49% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Cybersecurity architect

moderate · 62% match

Service designer

moderate · 56% match

Building architect

moderate · 56% match

Library clerk SSOC 44110

47% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Stock records clerk

moderate · 59% match

Travel consultant/Reservation executive

moderate · 58% match

Material planning clerk

moderate · 57% match

Legal clerk SSOC 44170

46% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

In-house legal counsel (except judiciary, ministries and statutory boards)

moderate · 63% match

Dermatologist

moderate · 56% match

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner

moderate · 56% match

Money changer SSOC 42113

41% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Travel consultant/Reservation executive

moderate · 62% match

Material planning clerk

moderate · 55% match

Production planning clerk

moderate · 54% match

ICT quality assurance specialist SSOC 25151

40% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Quality control/assurance manager

moderate · 63% match

Budgeting and financial accounting manager (including financial controller)

moderate · 60% match

Audit manager

moderate · 60% match

Logistics/Production planner SSOC 33461

39% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Construction manager

moderate · 63% match

Transport/Technical operations manager (except port/shipping operations)

moderate · 62% match

Production manager in agriculture and fisheries

moderate · 62% match

Office supervisor SSOC 40000

39% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Travel consultant/Reservation executive

moderate · 55% match

Material planning clerk

moderate · 55% match

Production planning clerk

moderate · 53% match

Management executive SSOC 33491

37% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

International market agent/representative (e.g. junket operator)

moderate · 64% match

Operations officer (except transport operations)

moderate · 64% match

Safety and security consultant

moderate · 63% match

After sales adviser/Client account service executive SSOC 33222

37% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Regional sales manager

moderate · 60% match

Marketing manager

moderate · 60% match

Business development manager

moderate · 59% match

Maintenance planner SSOC 33462

37% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

International market agent/representative (e.g. junket operator)

moderate · 64% match

Safety and security consultant

moderate · 63% match

Sports coach

moderate · 58% match

Appraiser/Valuer (excluding intangible asset valuer) SSOC 33151

37% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

International market agent/representative (e.g. junket operator)

moderate · 64% match

Safety and security consultant

moderate · 63% match

Sports coach

moderate · 61% match

Operations officer (except transport operations) SSOC 33492

36% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

International market agent/representative (e.g. junket operator)

moderate · 64% match

Safety and security consultant

moderate · 63% match

Real estate agent

moderate · 63% match

Cybersecurity architect SSOC 25245

33% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Building architect

moderate · 55% match

Service designer

moderate · 55% match

Landscape architect

moderate · 54% match

Sales supervisor SSOC 52201

33% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Sales demonstrator

moderate · 60% match

Regional sales manager

moderate · 59% match

Marketing manager

moderate · 59% match

Software developer SSOC 25121

32% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Enterprise/Solution architect

moderate · 64% match

Chief information officer/Chief technology officer/Chief security officer

moderate · 63% match

Software and applications manager

moderate · 63% match

Chemical engineering technician (petrochemicals) SSOC 31163

31% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Harbour pilot

moderate · 62% match

Air transport service supervisor

moderate · 62% match

Electrical engineering technician

moderate · 61% match

ICT business process consultant/Business analyst SSOC 25112

31% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Marine superintendent

moderate · 63% match

Clinical research professional

moderate · 62% match

Commercial airline pilot

moderate · 62% match

Material planning clerk SSOC 43221

29% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Stock records clerk

moderate · 56% match

Storekeeper

moderate · 53% match

Travel consultant/Reservation executive

stretch · 47% match

Enterprise/Solution architect SSOC 25113

29% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Chief information officer/Chief technology officer/Chief security officer

moderate · 62% match

Software and applications manager

moderate · 60% match

Network, communications and infrastructure manager

moderate · 59% match

Chemistry technician SSOC 31111

29% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Electrical engineering technician

moderate · 63% match

Semi-conductor technician

moderate · 62% match

Marine engineering officer (including third, fourth and fifth engineer)

moderate · 62% match

Service designer SSOC 21670

28% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Building architect

moderate · 63% match

Landscape architect

moderate · 62% match

Interaction designer

moderate · 61% match

Interaction designer SSOC 21664

28% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Building architect

moderate · 64% match

Landscape architect

moderate · 63% match

Product and industrial designer

moderate · 59% match

Computer systems operator SSOC 35110

28% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

IT support technician (including IT user helpdesk technician)

moderate · 60% match

IT security technician

moderate · 60% match

Sports coach

moderate · 58% match

Ship broker (e.g. charter or sales & purchase) SSOC 24362

28% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Marketing strategy/planning professional

moderate · 62% match

Regional sales manager

moderate · 58% match

Marketing manager

moderate · 57% match

Buyer SSOC 33231

27% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

International market agent/representative (e.g. junket operator)

moderate · 61% match

Safety and security consultant

moderate · 61% match

Sports coach

moderate · 59% match

Travel consultant/Reservation executive SSOC 42210

27% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Stock records clerk

stretch · 49% match

Storekeeper

stretch · 46% match

Air transport equipment project executive SSOC 33611

27% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

International market agent/representative (e.g. junket operator)

moderate · 61% match

Safety and security consultant

moderate · 61% match

Sports coach

moderate · 59% match

Ship charterer SSOC 24353

27% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Foreign exchange dealer

moderate · 62% match

Management consultant

moderate · 61% match

Commodities and freight derivatives broker

moderate · 61% match

Cage/Count supervisor SSOC 52301

26% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Salesperson (door-to-door)

moderate · 62% match

Undertaker

moderate · 60% match

Wellness centre manager (e.g. hair/beauty/slimming/spa/manicure/massage)

moderate · 59% match

Clinical research coordinator SSOC 31412

26% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Marine engineering officer (including third, fourth and fifth engineer)

moderate · 62% match

Fire and safety inspector

moderate · 62% match

Air transport service supervisor

moderate · 61% match

Interior designer SSOC 34321

26% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Landscape architect

moderate · 55% match

Building architect

moderate · 55% match

Product and industrial designer

moderate · 53% match

Revenue specialist SSOC 24315

26% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Management consultant

moderate · 62% match

Foreign exchange dealer

moderate · 61% match

Business valuer

moderate · 61% match

Marketing strategy/planning professional SSOC 24313

25% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Regional sales manager

moderate · 57% match

Marketing manager

moderate · 56% match

Business development manager

moderate · 55% match

Financial product structurer SSOC 24135

25% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Financial/Investment adviser (e.g. relationship manager)

moderate · 58% match

Financial risk manager

moderate · 55% match

Quality control/assurance manager

moderate · 55% match

Foreign exchange dealer SSOC 24142

25% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Commodities and freight derivatives broker

moderate · 63% match

Business valuer

moderate · 60% match

Management consultant

moderate · 59% match

Commodities and freight derivatives broker SSOC 24154

25% risk

Best risk-reducing options:

Business valuer

moderate · 62% match

Management consultant

moderate · 61% match

Business consultant

moderate · 55% match

Frequently asked questions

Why do exit paths matter as much as AI risk itself?

Occupational mobility research (del Rio-Chanona et al. 2021; IMF 2024) finds that whether displacement pressure turns into unemployment or smooth reallocation depends on the transition network around an occupation — two occupations with the same risk score can have very different outcomes depending on their escape routes.

What counts as "few exits"?

An occupation lands here when its single best risk-reducing transition falls in the weakest quarter of exit scores among all high-risk occupations. Lateral or higher-risk moves never count as exits, however similar the work. The transition score combines archetype similarity, skill overlap, wage preservation, demand strength, and risk improvement.

More: Highest Risk Augmented Safest High-Paying Transitions All Rankings

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