UK AI JobsExpected · in use · happened
UK AI Jobs/Sports & Leisure/Leisure centre manager
Mixed signals

Leisure centre manager

24.3K UK workers · typical pay £30,000 · entry route GCSEs grades 4-9 (A*-C). Projected headcount change: -1% to 2035.

How AI is actually used here · measured · Anthropic Economic Index
53%
Augmentation
AI mostly assists
7.2×
Time compression
~4.7h → ~39min
2.83/5
AI autonomy
how hands-off it runs
47%
Automation
of measured usage
How the collaboration splits · the six measured modes
task iteration 41.6%directive 30.4%feedback loop 15.2%learning 9%unclassified 2.3%validation 1.6%
What people make with AI here
plan / strategy25%document / report18%advice / recommendation12%

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)
24.3K
Median pay
£30.0K
Our scored call · a labelled hypothesis, not a measurement
AI exposure
4 / 10
Elasticity
4.5 / 10
2035 outlook
-1%
Exposure · 4/10
Why AI can do the work

While AI can automate administrative tasks like staff scheduling, budget monitoring, and membership management, the role requires a significant physical presence to manage facilities and health and safety. The core responsibilities involve real-time leadership, staff management, and interpersonal customer service within a physical environment, which limits total AI displacement.

Elasticity · 4.5/10
Gated by population
Whether demand expands when it gets cheaper

While cheaper management might lead to slightly more diverse programming, the total number of leisure centres is gated by physical infrastructure and the local population catchment.

Trajectory to 2035

Headcount drifts -1% across 12 years.

Adoption scenario
×1.00 · Consensus

Change the scenario in the nav to reshape this curve.

Headcount projection · 2024 → 2035
Baseline 24.3K workers (2024) · % change vs baseline
Peak 2027 +3%2035 -1%
2024202620282030203220342035-6%+0%+6%-1%
Peak headcount
2027
+3% vs 2024
2035 endpoint
-1%
24.0K workers
Time to −10%
Never crosses in model
Total wage pool
£0.7B
pay × jobs
Where this role lives

UK employment share by region, SOC-joined to 1224.

South East
10.0K · 23.8%
North West
9.7K · 23.1%
London
7.3K · 17.4%
Yorkshire and The Humber
6.0K · 14.3%
South West
4.9K · 11.7%
Scotland
4.1K · 9.8%
Gender split

Relatively balanced: 44.3% women.

21.5K women · 44%27.0K men · 56%
slug: leisure-centre-manager · dataset 2026.03 · CC-BY-4.0