UK AI JobsExpected · in use · happened
Mixed signals

Security officer

33.9K UK workers · typical pay £27,500 · entry route GCSEs grades 4-9 (A*-C). Projected growth of +5% to 2035.

How AI is actually used here · measured · Anthropic Economic Index
34%
Augmentation
AI mostly does the task
5.3×
Time compression
~2h → ~22min
2.72/5
AI autonomy
how hands-off it runs
66%
Automation
of measured usage
How the collaboration splits · the six measured modes
directive 43%feedback loop 18.4%task iteration 15.3%learning 15.1%unclassified 5.7%validation 2.6%
What people make with AI here
advice / recommendation24%document / report21%explanation / answer20%

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)
33.9K
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 role requires a physical presence for patrolling, intervention, and securing premises, which AI cannot replicate. While AI-driven CCTV and automated scanning systems are increasing productivity and automating some monitoring tasks, the core requirements of physical deterrence, manual checks, and handling unpredictable human conflict keep exposure low.

Elasticity · 6.5/10
Whether demand expands when it gets cheaper

Lower costs would shift security from a luxury for high-value sites to a ubiquitous presence in residential areas and smaller retail units, unlocking massive latent demand for physical deterrence.

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 33.9K workers (2024) · % change vs baseline
Peak 2035 +5%2035 +5%
Peak 20352024202620282030203220342035-6%+0%+6%+5%
Peak headcount
2035
+5% vs 2024
2035 endpoint
+5%
35.6K workers
Time to −10%
Never crosses in model
Total wage pool
£0.9B
pay × jobs
Where this role lives

UK employment share by region, SOC-joined to 9231.

London
33.0K · 20.8%
North West
21.3K · 13.4%
South East
19.4K · 12.2%
West Midlands
13.6K · 8.6%
East
13.0K · 8.2%
Scotland
12.5K · 7.9%
Yorkshire and The Humber
11.4K · 7.2%
South West
10.7K · 6.7%
Gender split

Majority-male role (85.5% men).

19.7K women · 15%115.8K men · 86%
Career pivots · same category, higher elasticity

Five roles with transferable skills and better demand dynamics.

slug: security-officer · dataset 2026.03 · CC-BY-4.0