UK AI JobsExpected · in use · happened
Hands-on, growing

Boat builder

8.8K UK workers · typical pay £33,000 · entry route GCSEs grades 4-9 (A*-C). Projected growth of +9% to 2035.

How AI is actually used here · measured · Anthropic Economic Index
37%
Augmentation
AI mostly does the task
9.2×
Time compression
~3.2h → ~21min
3.09/5
AI autonomy
how hands-off it runs
64%
Automation
of measured usage
How the collaboration splits · the six measured modes
directive 56.1%task iteration 33.9%feedback loop 7%validation 1.4%learning 1%unclassified 0.5%
What people make with AI here
document / report39%chart / visualization20%email / message5%

Real Claude.ai usage mapped to this occupation's SOC group, Apr+May 2026, CC-BY. Claude users only; task times model-estimated; augment/automate is how AI is used, not a count of jobs lost. Method →

Facts · ONS + NCS
UK workers (2024)
8.8K
Median pay
£33.0K
Our scored call · a labelled hypothesis, not a measurement
AI exposure
2 / 10
Elasticity
7.5 / 10
2035 outlook
+9%
Exposure · 2/10
Why AI can do the work

Boat building is a highly physical trade requiring manual dexterity, welding, and on-site assembly in unpredictable environments like shipyards and marinas. While AI may assist in the design phase or inventory management, the core tasks of laminating hulls, installing plumbing, and repairing engines remain resilient to automation due to their physical complexity and the bespoke nature of marine craft.

Elasticity · 7.5/10
Whether demand expands when it gets cheaper

Lower production costs would shift boats from luxury assets to mass-market consumer goods, unlocking massive latent demand for leisure craft.

Trajectory to 2035

Headcount grows +9%, a Jevons-pattern curve.

Adoption scenario
×1.00 · Consensus

Change the scenario in the nav to reshape this curve.

Headcount projection · 2024 → 2035
Baseline 8.8K workers (2024) · % change vs baseline
Peak 2035 +9%2035 +9%
Peak 20352024202620282030203220342035-7%+0%+10%+9%
Peak headcount
2035
+9% vs 2024
2035 endpoint
+9%
9.6K workers
Time to −10%
Never crosses in model
Total wage pool
£0.3B
pay × jobs
Where this role lives

UK employment share by region, SOC-joined to 5235.

No regional breakdown available: SOC below ONS reporting thresholds.

Gender split

Majority-male role (100.0% men).

0 women · 0%8.6K men · 100%
Career pivots · same category, higher elasticity

Five roles with transferable skills and better demand dynamics.

slug: boat-builder · dataset 2026.03 · CC-BY-4.0