British graduate chooses plumbing over office job amid AI fears

A 21-year-old British girl named Hina Kirai from Bolton, Greater Manchester, decided to completely change her career course and begin training to become a plumber, driven by a desire to secure her future with a practical profession which artificial intelligence cannot seize or replace.

Kirai recently graduated with a degree in psychology from Edge Hill University, burdened with student debt amounting to £30,000.

Despite enjoying her studies, fears of technology and artificial intelligence dominating office jobs and traditional industries midway through her university journey prompted her to seek a manual specialisation which would always be in demand in the market.

Kirai currently works part-time as a teaching assistant for students with special educational needs to pay off her debts, while simultaneously enrolling in a three-and-a-half-year plumbing training course costing £5,500, with financial support and encouragement from her parents, especially since she was inspired by her father, who is a craftsman and whom she accompanied since childhood to help.

Kirai faces several social and cultural challenges.

In addition to often being the only woman in training rooms and male-dominated workplaces, she belongs to a family of Indian descent, where Asian families typically expect women to prefer traditional professions in health or finance.

She also received some condescending and skeptical comments from men on social media platforms about her abilities after sharing her journey on Instagram.

Statistics for this sector in the UK indicate that women represent only about 1 percent of the total qualified plumbers, although this percentage is showing significant improvement among new trainees.

Kirai, who hopes in the future to combine plumbing work with mental health care, seeks to break prevailing stereotypes and inspire girls to enter skilled trades, emphasising that having female workers in homes provides a greater sense of security and comfort for the elderly and women living alone.