Artificial intelligence has people wondering which jobs will still exist years from now. But while AI may be able to write reports, analyze data and automate more office work, there is one thing it still can’t do: show up at your apartment building and fix a leaking pipe.

For apartment owners, that highlights something we’ve known for years. Good tradespeople are incredibly valuable — and increasingly difficult to find. No one wants to see people lose their jobs, but one potential silver lining of the AI revolution could be a renewed interest in skilled trades such as plumbing, HVAC, electrical work, carpentry and construction — and a renewed appreciation for the people who are truly good at them.

We Have a Shortage of People Who Can Actually Fix Things

Ask almost any apartment owner or property manager what one of their biggest frustrations is, and you’ll hear a familiar story: finding reliable, skilled people who can actually do quality work.

A good plumber is invaluable. So is a knowledgeable HVAC technician, electrician, carpenter, roofer, painter or general maintenance professional. Yet finding someone who shows up when promised, diagnoses the problem correctly, takes pride in the work and fixes it properly the first time can be surprisingly difficult.

For years, our culture has encouraged young people to pursue four-year college degrees and white-collar careers, sometimes treating the trades as a second choice rather than the highly skilled professions they are.

At the same time, many of the careers we once assumed were relatively insulated from automation — accounting, law, engineering, finance, software development and even parts of medicine — are now being reshaped by AI. In many cases, the more computer-based and information-driven the work is, the more opportunity there is for AI to perform at least part of it.

AI can analyze a spreadsheet, draft a legal document or help interpret a medical image. But it can’t crawl under your apartment building and repair a broken plumbing line, at least not yet.

Skilled Labor May Become More Valuable, Not Less

The AI revolution could change how younger generations think about career opportunities. If technology makes some traditional white-collar career paths less secure, we may see more people pursuing plumbing, electrical, HVAC, carpentry, construction and other hands-on professions that require physical skill, judgment and real-world problem solving.

And that could be very good news for apartment owners. More people entering the trades could eventually create a deeper pool of skilled professionals, greater competition and, hopefully, a renewed emphasis on craftsmanship.

It could also restore some deserved prestige to these careers. A highly skilled electrician or plumber isn’t someone who “didn’t go to college.” They are professionals who possess valuable expertise that buildings, businesses and communities simply cannot function without.

Technology Changes, but Buildings Still Need People

AI will undoubtedly change the way all of us work — including those of us in real estate. We should embrace the efficiencies it creates while being realistic about the disruption that may come with it.

But apartment buildings remain remarkably physical things. Pipes leak. Air conditioners stop working. Electrical systems fail. Roofs need repairing. Units need renovating. Someone still has to know how to fix them — and fix them well.

Perhaps one unexpected benefit of the AI revolution will be reminding us just how valuable those skills really are. And for apartment owners who have spent years trying to find great tradespeople, that might be one technological disruption we can actually look forward to.

Written by Mercedes Shaffer, Real Estate Broker

Mercedes Shaffer is a multifamily real estate broker, serving Orange County and LA County. For questions about buying, selling or 1031 exchanges, contact her team at 714.330.9999, InvestingInTheOC@gmail.com, or you can visit their website at InvestingInTheOC.com BRE 02114448 REAL Brokerage