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

Plumber

33.0K UK workers · typical pay £35,000 · entry route Entry Level / GCSEs grades 1-3. Projected growth of +6% to 2035.

How AI is actually used here · measured · Anthropic Economic Index
41%
Augmentation
AI mostly does the task
6.2×
Time compression
~1.8h → ~18min
2.6/5
AI autonomy
how hands-off it runs
59%
Automation
of measured usage
How the collaboration splits · the six measured modes
directive 42.4%learning 19.3%task iteration 19.2%feedback loop 15.8%validation 2%unclassified 1.3%
What people make with AI here
explanation / answer28%advice / recommendation21%document / report12%

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)
33.0K
Median pay
£35.0K
Our scored call · a labelled hypothesis, not a measurement
AI exposure
2 / 10
Elasticity
6 / 10
2035 outlook
+6%
Exposure · 2/10
Why AI can do the work

Plumbing is a highly physical occupation requiring manual dexterity, spatial reasoning, and real-time problem solving in unpredictable, cramped environments. While AI may assist with administrative tasks, scheduling, or diagnostic support via computer-aided tools, the core work of installing and repairing physical systems remains insulated from automation.

Elasticity · 6/10
Gated by saturated
Whether demand expands when it gets cheaper

Lower costs unlock significant deferred maintenance and luxury upgrades, though total volume is ultimately constrained by the physical stock of UK buildings.

Trajectory to 2035

Headcount grows +6%, a Jevons-pattern curve.

Adoption scenario
×1.00 · Consensus

Change the scenario in the nav to reshape this curve.

Headcount projection · 2024 → 2035
Baseline 33.0K workers (2024) · % change vs baseline
Peak 2035 +6%2035 +6%
Peak 20352024202620282030203220342035-6%+0%+7%+6%
Peak headcount
2035
+6% vs 2024
2035 endpoint
+6%
35.0K workers
Time to −10%
Never crosses in model
Total wage pool
£1.2B
pay × jobs
Where this role lives

UK employment share by region, SOC-joined to 5315.

South East
22.7K · 14.4%
North West
18.8K · 11.9%
Yorkshire and The Humber
18.5K · 11.7%
South West
16.3K · 10.3%
London
13.7K · 8.7%
East Midlands
12.9K · 8.2%
West Midlands
12.4K · 7.9%
Scotland
11.8K · 7.5%
Gender split

Majority-male role (100.0% men).

0 women · 0%130.1K men · 100%
slug: plumber · dataset 2026.03 · CC-BY-4.0