Mixed signals

Physiotherapist

31.5K UK workers · typical pay £43,000 · entry route Postgraduate degree (Level 7+). Projected growth of +5% to 2035.

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

Thin signal. Only 14% 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.

51%

Augmentation

AI mostly assists

4.5×

Time compression

~3.3h → ~44min

2.74/5

AI autonomy

how hands-off it runs

49%

Automation

of measured usage

How the collaboration splits · the six measured modes

learning 26%feedback loop 25%task iteration 23.2%directive 22.7%unclassified 1.8%validation 1.4%

What people make with AI here

plan / strategy27%advice / recommendation20%explanation / answer17%

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)

31.5K

Median pay

£43.0K

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

Physiotherapy is a highly physical and interpersonal profession requiring manual therapy, physical assessment, and real-time adjustment to a patient's movements. While AI can assist with diagnostic analysis, treatment planning, and administrative record-keeping, the core of the role requires a physical presence and human empathy that cannot be automated.

Elasticity · 6.5/10

Gated by population

Whether demand expands when it gets cheaper

Cheaper delivery unlocks massive latent demand for preventative care, sports performance, and chronic pain management that is currently rationed by cost and waiting lists.

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 31.5K workers (2024) · % change vs baseline

Peak 2035 +5%2035 +5%

Peak headcount

2035

+5% vs 2024

2035 endpoint

+5%

33.1K workers

Time to −10%

–

Never crosses in model

Total wage pool

£1.4B

pay × jobs

Where this role lives

UK employment share by region, SOC-joined to 2221.

West Midlands

11.9K · 17.7%

London

10.4K · 15.5%

Scotland

9.3K · 13.9%

South East

8.8K · 13.1%

North West

8.4K · 12.5%

East

7.6K · 11.3%

South West

5.4K · 8%

Yorkshire and The Humber

5.3K · 7.9%

Gender split

Majority-female role (63.0% women).

39.7K women · 63%23.3K men · 37%

Career pivots · same category, higher elasticity

Five roles with transferable skills and better demand dynamics.

Elasticity 8.5/10 · AI 3/10

Plastic surgeon

£92,000+9%

Elasticity 7.5/10 · AI 5/10

Nutritionist

£39,000+7%