Jobs in construction have an average Still needs a human score of 78.2 out of 100 (higher is safer), 4.2 points above the average for all jobs of 74.0 and tied for 7th of 37 among the sectors (1st is least exposed). The largest job here is construction laborers (921,000 workers, 87/100 ↑ safer), and of the jobs more common here than across the economy, sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel is the most exposed (54/100 ↑ safer).
78.2/100↑ safer
2.7%
14.7%
+5.0%
How the work here could shift
The share of workers in this sector whose job would sit in each band, from today to 2060.
Today
60%
of workers in this sector are in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
0% are in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2045
23%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
37% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2060
23%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
73% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
Each job's score moves towards the bottom band (Largely: AI could largely do the job) by the year it could be largely automated, slowly at first and faster later, as adoption usually goes. Each job is run as ten scenarios across its replacement range, so every figure mixes early and late outcomes. The model stops at 2060. How the timeline works
Will AI replace the job?Largely.Mostly.Partly.A little.Nah.
Show the data
| Year | Largely | Mostly | Partly | A little | Nah |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today (2026) | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.7% | 37.7% | 59.6% |
| 2030 | 0.0% | 1.1% | 18.0% | 37.7% | 43.2% |
| 2035 | 8.5% | 11.1% | 21.9% | 36.0% | 22.6% |
| 2040 | 19.2% | 22.3% | 24.1% | 11.8% | 22.5% |
| 2045 | 36.7% | 24.2% | 15.3% | 1.2% | 22.5% |
| 2050 | 52.8% | 20.2% | 3.2% | 1.2% | 22.5% |
| 2055 | 64.0% | 12.2% | 0.0% | 1.2% | 22.5% |
| 2060 | 73.1% | 3.2% | 0.0% | 1.2% | 22.5% |
The largest jobs in construction
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction Laborers | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 920,700 |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little.workers of 2 related jobs | D | 2047–2060+ | 630,700 |
| 3 | Electricians | 81↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2047–2060+ | 603,400 |
| 4 | Carpenters | 83↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 566,400 |
| 5 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 82↑ saferAI replace? Nah.workers of 2 related jobs | D | 2047–2060+ | 385,400 |
| 6 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 82↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 311,600 |
| 7 | Construction Managers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2051 | 304,400 |
| 8 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 85↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 298,700 |
| 9 | General and Operations Managers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2051 | 262,300 |
| 10 | Office Clerks, General | 65↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2053 | 259,900 |
Common jobs here that AI can do most of
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customer Service Representatives | 51↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2034–2041 | 39,800 |
| 2 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 54↑ saferAI replace? Partly.workers of 2 related jobs | D | 2034–2042 | 19,100 |
| 3 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 54↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2034–2042 | 129,000 |
| 4 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 57↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2034–2044 | 18,600 |
| 5 | Receptionists and Information Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 17,600 |
| 6 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 116,300 |
| 7 | Human Resources Specialists | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2045 | 22,100 |
| 8 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 135,300 |
| 9 | Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | 62↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 18,900 |
| 10 | Billing and Posting Clerks | 62↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 9,600 |
Common jobs here that most need a human
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | 88↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 31,100 |
| 2 | Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 88↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 9,200 |
| 3 | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 88↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 18,200 |
| 4 | Helpers--Carpenters | 88↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 19,000 |
| 5 | Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | 88↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 189,700 |
| 6 | Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 20,100 |
| 7 | Pipelayers | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 26,200 |
| 8 | Tapers | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 12,600 |
| 9 | Construction Laborers | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 920,700 |
| 10 | Helpers--Electricians | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 58,300 |
How this is worked out
- The average weights every job's Still needs a human score by how many people do it in this sector, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' industry employment data. Jobs cover 99.5% of the sector's employment.
- Job scores are national: an accountant in retail scores the same as an accountant anywhere. The sector figure reflects its mix of jobs, not how its employers use AI; the Census figure shows that.