We need more plumbers and fewer lawyers in AI age, says BlackRock boss

Society should respect plumbing and electrician careers as artificial intelligence (AI) replaces some office jobs, the boss of US financial giant BlackRock has told the BBC. Larry Fink, who leads the world's largest asset manager, says the US "overdid" the focus on young people going to university and idolising jobs careers in banking while undervaluing skilled trades. In a wide-ranging exclusive interview, he also warned if the price of oil hits $150 (£122) a barrel it will trigger a global recession. BlackRock is a financial colossus, controlling assets worth $14 trillion, and is one of the biggest investors in many of the world's largest companies. Its size and spread gives Fink, who is one of the eight co-founders of the business, which started in 1988, a unique insight into the health of the global economy. Earlier this week, in his annual letter to shareholders, Fink said the AI boom would create an enormous amount of jobs "related to electricians and welders and plumbers". In contrast, there might not be as much demand for some office jobs and this could lead to a rethink about what roles are needed as "society is changing and evolving". He said this meant we needed to chang