Mixed signals

Nursing associate

134.4K UK workers · typical pay £27,500 · entry route Bachelor's degree (Level 6). Projected growth of +5% to 2035.

How AI is actually used here · measured · Anthropic Economic Index

Thin signal. Only 24% of the Claude usage mapped to this job is actual work. The rest is personal or study use of the same skills. Read the figures below as indicative, not precise.

53%

Augmentation

AI mostly assists

3.7×

Time compression

~3.1h → ~51min

2.69/5

AI autonomy

how hands-off it runs

47%

Automation

of measured usage

How the collaboration splits · the six measured modes

learning 34.3%directive 23.3%feedback loop 21%task iteration 11.8%unclassified 5.9%validation 3.8%

What people make with AI here

explanation / answer32%advice / recommendation24%document / report14%

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)

134.4K

Median pay

£27.5K

Our scored call · a labelled hypothesis, not a measurement

AI exposure

3 / 10

Elasticity

6.5 / 10

2035 outlook

+5%

Exposure · 3/10

Why AI can do the work

The core of this role involves physical patient care, manual clinical tasks like taking bloods, and emotional support, which AI cannot replicate. While AI may assist with recording patient data and monitoring vitals, the requirement for physical presence in NHS and community settings provides a strong barrier to automation.

Elasticity · 6.5/10

Gated by population

Whether demand expands when it gets cheaper

Cheaper clinical support allows for significantly higher frequency of patient observations and preventative care interventions that are currently rationed due to staffing shortages.

Trajectory to 2035

Headcount grows +5%, a Jevons-pattern curve.

Adoption scenario

×1.00 · Consensus

Change the scenario in the nav to reshape this curve.

Headcount projection · 2024 → 2035

Baseline 134.4K workers (2024) · % change vs baseline

Peak 2035 +5%2035 +5%

Peak headcount

2035

+5% vs 2024

2035 endpoint

+5%

141.2K workers

Time to −10%

–

Never crosses in model

Total wage pool

£3.7B

pay × jobs

Where this role lives

UK employment share by region, SOC-joined to 2237.

London

45.6K · 13.8%

West Midlands

38.2K · 11.5%

South East

36.9K · 11.1%

North West

36.7K · 11.1%

Scotland

32.2K · 9.7%

South West

26.7K · 8.1%

Yorkshire and The Humber

26.5K · 8%

Wales

23.3K · 7%

Gender split

Majority-female role (83.4% women).

224.0K women · 83%44.7K men · 17%

Career pivots · same category, higher elasticity

Five roles with transferable skills and better demand dynamics.

Elasticity 7.5/10 · AI 5/10

Nutritionist

£39,000+7%