UK AI Jobs/Healthcare/Speech and language therapy assistant

Mixed signals

Speech and language therapy assistant

6.7K UK workers · typical pay £25,500 · entry route GCSEs grades 4-9 (A*-C). Projected growth of +5% to 2035.

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

Thin signal. Only 8% 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.

59%

Augmentation

AI mostly assists

4.5×

Time compression

~3.9h → ~52min

2.64/5

AI autonomy

how hands-off it runs

41%

Automation

of measured usage

How the collaboration splits · the six measured modes

task iteration 28.6%learning 26.4%feedback loop 21.8%directive 19.2%validation 2.9%unclassified 1.2%

What people make with AI here

recipe / meal plan30%explanation / answer20%advice / recommendation18%

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)

6.7K

Median pay

£25.5K

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

This role requires significant physical presence and interpersonal sensitivity to support patients in schools, hospitals, and homes. While AI can assist with administrative tasks like updating patient records or generating therapy materials, the core work involves real-time human interaction, emotional support, and physical observation that cannot be automated.

Elasticity · 6.5/10

Gated by population

Whether demand expands when it gets cheaper

Massive latent demand for therapy frequency and preventative support in schools and care homes currently suppressed by high staffing costs.

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 6.7K workers (2024) · % change vs baseline

Peak 2035 +5%2035 +5%

Peak headcount

2035

+5% vs 2024

2035 endpoint

+5%

7.0K workers

Time to −10%

–

Never crosses in model

Total wage pool

£0.2B

pay × jobs

Where this role lives

UK employment share by region, SOC-joined to 3219.

Northern Ireland

3.2K · 50.8%

Yorkshire and The Humber

3.1K · 49.2%

Gender split

Majority-female role (84.2% women).

22.4K women · 84%4.2K men · 16%

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%