A new national poll reveals that Americans believe jobs requiring hands-on experience are far less likely to be replaced by artificial intelligence. Conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the Business for Good Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to narrowing the wealth gap, the survey found that 76% of respondents agree that roles based on practical, physical skills are less vulnerable to automation by AI. The poll also showed that 75% of Americans believe hands-on skills and real-world experience matter more than formal education when it comes to career success. Ed Mitzen, co-founder of the Business for Good Foundation, said the findings reflect a broader shift in how people view opportunity. “You've got a lot of people that have historically didn't think the American dream was for them," he told Business Insider. "I would argue that it isn't broken, it's just moved, and it's moved to places we stop looking.” The results come amid growing debate over AI’s impact on the workforce. While some experts warn of widespread job displacement, particularly in white-collar roles, others suggest that AI may actually boost demand for blue-collar and skilled trades. A recent analysis by Indeed’s GenAI Skill Transformation Index found that jobs in nursing, childcare, and construction are among the least likely to be automated, due to their reliance on physical presence, human interaction, and complex decision-making in unpredictable environments. AI leaders are increasingly highlighting the value of hands-on work. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has predicted that AI could eliminate about half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within the next five years. However, others, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have questioned the scale of such disruptions. Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has encouraged people to pursue careers in the trades, noting that the AI boom is creating high-paying jobs in building data centers, chip factories, and infrastructure—many paying six-figure salaries. “We have a great shortage in that,” Huang said during a conversation with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink at the World Economic Forum. Elon Musk, CEO of xAI, echoed this sentiment, telling podcaster Joe Rogan that jobs involving physical labor—like farming, cooking, or construction—are far more resilient to AI disruption. “Anything that's physically moving atoms… those jobs will exist for a much longer time,” he said. In contrast, he warned that digital tasks performed at a computer are at high risk of being automated. The survey, which included 2,085 U.S. adults aged 18 and older, was conducted online from January 13 to January 15. The overall margin of error is ±2.5 percentage points. Additional findings show that 78% of respondents believe the stigma around trade and blue-collar work is decreasing, and three in four say their definition of a “good job” today is different from what it was just five years ago.