TradeTraining
Get started

Will AI take my job? Check how exposed your work is

Updated · 5 sources

Nobody can reliably say yes or no for one person's job. The Department for Education ranked UK occupation groups by exposure to AI, meaning how far the abilities their work needs overlap with what AI can do. Find the closest group below, then compare that rank with how businesses actually use AI before treating it as a reason to retrain.

Type a job title, like “admin assistant” or “delivery driver”, then choose the closest official group.

Every group in the study, most exposed first (365 in all)
Department for Education, The impact of AI on UK jobs and training (28 November 2023), Annex 1, Table 1. Rank 1 is the most exposed. Where two groups show the same rank, they tied.
All AIOccupation groupLanguage models
1Management consultants and business analysts10
2Financial managers and directors25
3Chartered and certified accountants46
4Psychologists3
5Purchasing managers and directors24
6Actuaries, economists and statisticians38
7Business and financial project management professionals33
8Finance and investment analysts and advisers26
9Legal professionals n.e.c.6
10Business and related associate professionals n.e.c.35
11Credit controllers7
12Solicitors2
13Civil engineers76
14Education advisers and school inspectors16
15Human resources administrative occupations8
16Business, research and administrative professionals n.e.c.48
17Financial accounts managers67
18Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks52
19National government administrative occupations18
20Marketing associate professionals21
21Brokers30
22Financial and accounting technicians59
23Human resource managers and directors17
24Insurance underwriters27
25Information technology and telecommunications directors57
25IT project and programme managers57
27Vocational and industrial trainers and instructors19
28Marketing and sales directors43
29Market research interviewers11
30Public relations professionals9
31Local government administrative occupations12
32Sales accounts and business development managers41
33Collector salespersons and credit agents15
34Health care practice managers28
34Health services and public health managers and directors28
36Clergy13
37Further education teaching professionals4
38Programmers and software development professionals80
39Social and humanities scientists20
40Human resources and industrial relations officers22
41Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants51
42Higher education teaching professionals14
43Advertising accounts managers and creative directors62
43Advertising and public relations directors62
45Taxation experts66
46Town planning officers72
47Information technology and telecommunications professionals n.e.c.82
48Medical secretaries34
49Quality assurance and regulatory professionals56
50Design and development engineers85
51Barristers and judges45
52Quantity surveyors94
53Environment professionals75
54Journalists, newspaper and periodical editors31
55Teaching and other educational professionals n.e.c.32
56Senior professionals of educational establishments40
57Social services managers and directors50
58Estate agents and auctioneers55
59Housing officers42
60Quality control and planning engineers98
61Customer service managers and supervisors49
62IT business analysts, architects and systems designers99
63IT operations technicians105
64Travel agency managers and proprietors37
65Authors, writers and translators39
66Telephone salespersons1
67Business and related research professionals77
68Market and street traders and assistants5
69Engineering professionals n.e.c.107
70Financial institution managers and directors69
71Physical scientists89
72Business sales executives65
73Company secretaries54
74Production and process engineers109
75Chief executives and senior officials70
76Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists61
77Counsellors44
78Managers and directors in storage and warehousing86
79Buyers and procurement officers79
80Shopkeepers and proprietors – wholesale and retail88
81IT specialist managers95
82Welfare and housing associate professionals n.e.c.36
83Arts officers, producers and directors83
84Finance officers116
85Office supervisors64
86Importers and exporters87
87Legal associate professionals78
88Office managers73
89Legal secretaries60
90Telephonists23
91Architects130
92Functional managers and directors n.e.c.81
93Officers of non-governmental organisations102
94Research and development managers92
95Mechanical engineers129
96Call and contact centre occupations47
97Personal assistants and other secretaries68
98Sales related occupations n.e.c.90
99Chemical scientists111
100Transport and distribution clerks and assistants114
101Welfare professionals n.e.c.53
102Speech and language therapists74
103Other administrative occupations n.e.c.91
104Estimators, valuers and assessors124
105Web design and development professionals133
106Librarians121
107Communication operators103
108Draughtspersons143
109School secretaries71
110Secondary education teaching professionals97
111Natural and social science professionals n.e.c.127
112Bank and post office clerks100
113Health and safety officers139
114Travel agents96
115Financial administrative occupations n.e.c.119
116Managers and directors in transport and distribution108
117Electronics engineers140
118Electrical engineers136
119Records clerks and assistants123
120Biological scientists and biochemists122
121Medical practitioners115
122Chartered architectural technologists163
123Architectural and town planning technicians135
124Social workers84
125Child and early years officers93
126Public services associate professionals128
127Customer service occupations n.e.c.104
128Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors101
129Construction project managers and related professionals149
130Managers and directors in retail and wholesale112
131Production managers and directors in manufacturing137
132Environmental health professionals138
133Production managers and directors in construction152
134Primary and nursery education teaching professionals106
135Receptionists117
136Health professionals n.e.c.120
137Air traffic controllers164
138Product, clothing and related designers159
139Protective service associate professionals n.e.c.148
140Podiatrists146
141Special needs education teaching professionals118
142Property, housing and estate managers132
143Actors, entertainers and presenters110
144Managers and proprietors in other services n.e.c.147
145Pharmacists142
146Health associate professionals n.e.c.141
147IT user support technicians154
148Musicians131
149Typists and related keyboard occupations160
150Occupational therapists134
151Conservation professionals158
152Driving instructors113
153Production managers and directors in mining and energy166
154Sales administrators157
155Building and civil engineering technicians181
156Archivists and curators162
157Graphic designers173
158Educational support assistants125
158Teaching assistants125
160Youth and community workers150
161Leisure and sports managers151
162Hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors161
163Chartered surveyors184
164Therapy professionals n.e.c.156
165Nursery nurses and assistants145
166Conference and exhibition managers and organisers155
167Leisure and travel service occupations n.e.c.153
168Security guards and related occupations170
169Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services165
170Nurses168
171Ophthalmic opticians180
172Air transport operatives174
173Science, engineering and production technicians n.e.c.187
174Sports and leisure assistants167
175Planning, process and production technicians195
176Probation officers144
177Midwives169
178Inspectors of standards and regulations188
179Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture179
180Engineering technicians203
181Electrical and electronics technicians209
182Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services189
183Laboratory technicians201
184Library clerks and assistants171
185Dispensing opticians192
186Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators210
187Aircraft pilots and flight engineers231
188Artists207
189Hairdressing and beauty salon managers and proprietors175
190Pharmaceutical technicians198
191Vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers178
192Veterinarians197
193Sports coaches, instructors and officials176
194Sales supervisors185
195Quality assurance technicians221
196Debt, rent and other cash collectors206
197Medical radiographers211
198Pre-press technicians237
199Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors202
200Dental practitioners220
201TV, video and audio engineers225
202Construction and building trades supervisors213
203Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors190
204Senior care workers172
205Playworkers191
206Weighers, graders and sorters227
207Houseparents and residential wardens177
208Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants199
209Energy plant operatives238
210Paramedics215
211Medical and dental technicians217
212Physiotherapists182
213Senior police officers219
214Precision instrument makers and repairers248
215Telecommunications engineers235
216Care workers and home carers194
217Air travel assistants183
218Retail cashiers and check-out operators205
219Chefs214
220Care escorts186
221Florists222
222Caretakers196
223Other elementary services occupations n.e.c.204
224Leisure and theme park attendants224
225Conservation and environmental associate professionals236
226Routine inspectors and testers247
227Sales and retail assistants200
228Farmers239
229Aircraft maintenance and related trades243
230Beauticians and related occupations232
231Childminders and related occupations208
232Catering and bar managers218
233Publicans and managers of licensed premises216
234Veterinary nurses226
235Fitness instructors193
236Bakers and flour confectioners244
237Stock control clerks and assistants229
238School midday and crossing patrol occupations245
239Other drivers and transport operatives n.e.c.249
240Ship and hovercraft officers267
241Bus and coach drivers287
242Elementary security occupations n.e.c.233
243Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants228
244Dental nurses234
245Hairdressers and barbers223
246Electricians and electrical fitters259
247Garage managers and proprietors254
248Waiters and waitresses212
249Elementary storage occupations251
250Cleaning and housekeeping managers and supervisors230
251Cooks240
252Air-conditioning and refrigeration engineers260
253Chemical and related process operatives271
254Agricultural and fishing trades n.e.c.255
255Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out272
256Parking and civil enforcement occupations270
257Police officers (sergeant and below)253
258Other skilled trades n.e.c.276
259Weavers and knitters303
260Train and tram drivers295
261Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs293
262Print finishing and binding workers265
263Pest control officers257
264IT engineers268
265Water and sewerage plant operatives274
266Nursing auxiliaries and assistants241
267Elementary administration occupations n.e.c.261
268Rail travel assistants252
269Electrical and electronic trades n.e.c.278
270Tailors and dressmakers277
271Textiles, garments and related trades n.e.c.288
272Crane drivers283
273Prison service officers (below principal officer)250
274Horticultural trades264
275Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)273
276Police community support officers266
277Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods)279
278Animal care services occupations n.e.c.262
279Rail transport operatives289
280Printers284
281Metal machining setters and setter-operators292
282Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.291
283Shelf fillers242
284Construction and building trades n.e.c.282
285Roundspersons and van salespersons269
286Fire service officers (watch manager and below)280
287Printing machine assistants285
288Housekeepers and related occupations246
289Food, drink and tobacco process operatives290
290Assemblers (electrical and electronic products)286
291Kitchen and catering assistants258
292Metal working machine operatives301
293Boat and ship builders and repairers294
294Marine and waterways transport operatives308
295Smiths and forge workers298
296Merchandisers and window dressers256
297Quarry workers and related operatives304
298Forestry workers302
299Postal workers, mail sorters, messengers and couriers275
300Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians297
301Plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers299
302Plastics process operatives312
303Footwear and leather working trades300
304Glass and ceramics makers, decorators and finishers317
305Electroplaters307
306Agricultural machinery drivers311
307Glass and ceramics process operatives316
308Vehicle body builders and repairers320
309Refuse and salvage occupations314
310Metal making and treating process operatives325
311Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers318
312Coal mine operatives333
313Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers332
314Metal working production and maintenance fitters315
315Paper and wood machine operatives321
316Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.327
317Elementary sales occupations n.e.c.296
318Moulders, core makers and die casters328
319Van drivers334
320Welding trades335
321Rail construction and maintenance operatives352
322Sheet metal workers331
323Groundsmen and greenkeepers319
324Upholsterers336
325Rubber process operatives330
326Glaziers, window fabricators and fitters313
327Pipe fitters329
328Carpenters and joiners322
329Construction operatives n.e.c.323
330Mobile machine drivers and operatives n.e.c.356
331Bar staff281
332Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations n.e.c.324
333Sewing machinists349
334Fishmongers and poultry dressers310
335Elementary cleaning occupations n.e.c.344
336Large goods vehicle drivers354
337Scaffolders, stagers and riggers341
338Textile process operatives345
339Process operatives n.e.c.343
340Dancers and choreographers263
341Farm workers339
342Butchers326
343Vehicle paint technicians358
344Street cleaners347
345Industrial cleaning process occupations351
346Tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitters342
347Elementary process plant occupations n.e.c.350
348Road construction operatives353
349Bricklayers and masons346
350Gardeners and landscape gardeners340
351Packers, bottlers, canners and fillers338
352Fork-lift truck drivers365
353Painters and decorators337
354Window cleaners309
355Launderers, dry cleaners and pressers355
356Metal plate workers, and riveters359
357Floorers and wall tilers357
358Cleaners and domestics305
359Hospital porters306
360Vehicle valeters and cleaners362
361Steel erectors363
362Plasterers360
363Elementary construction occupations361
364Roofers, roof tilers and slaters364
365Sports players348

What the evidence says

A UK comparison

The Department for Education ranked 365 UK occupation groups by how exposed their work is to AI.[1] It compares the abilities each group's work needs with what AI applications can do, so it describes groups, not individual workers or employers.

Source: Department for Education (Unit for Future Skills) · 28 November 2023 · UK

Office work ranks higher than site work

On that exposure ranking, programmers and software development professionals came 38th of 365 and electricians and electrical fitters 246th of 365.[1] Electricians are less exposed than most groups in the study, but they are not among the least exposed.

Source: Department for Education (Unit for Future Skills) · 28 November 2023 · UK

Exposure includes help as well as replacement

The government's evidence review quotes IMF estimates that around 70 per cent of UK workers are in occupations with tasks AI could perform or enhance. By the same estimates, around half of those workers are in roles where AI is more likely to support them, and the other half in roles where it may be more likely to do tasks people do now.[2]

Source: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the AI Security Institute · 28 January 2026 · UK

Exposure is not adoption

In the Office for National Statistics business survey, the share of businesses with ten or more employees using at least one AI technology was around 35 per cent in June 2026. In construction it was 13 per cent in June 2026.[3]

Source: Office for National Statistics · 20 July 2026 · UK

Few businesses report cutting staff

In the same survey, around half of businesses using AI said it had made no difference to their headcount.[3] Many were unsure, and a smaller share reported reductions. The survey records what businesses have seen, not what they will do.

Source: Office for National Statistics · 20 July 2026 · UK

What it doesn’t tell you

  • The ranking cannot tell whether AI will help with a task or replace it; the Department for Education says so itself.
  • It maps abilities from a US database to UK occupation groups and excludes robotics. Your actual tasks may differ from the group average.
  • The ranking was published in 2023, and we have found no newer edition.[1] Newer tools may change which tasks count as exposed.
  • A business survey records what firms say they use. It cannot show what your own employer will decide.
  • A rank says nothing about local employers, training places, your health or whether you would enjoy practical work.

DfE caveat: The analysis measures the exposure of jobs to AI, rather than distinguishing whether a job will be augmented (aided) or replaced (substituted) by AI.

Audit your working week, not just your job title

List the tasks you actually do, how often you do them and who checks the result. Separate tasks a tool might assist from duties that still need judgement, access to a workplace or responsibility for the outcome. This is our suggested way to use an occupation-level exposure result; it is not a personal risk score.

Read the source: Department for Education (Unit for Future Skills)

If you’re weighing up a trade

Use the check as a prompt to look at your own tasks. If electrical work interests you, try a short lesson, then ask a local college or employer about supervised training.

By starting, you agree to our Terms and Privacy notice.

We don’t teach the other trades in this list yet

We currently teach electrical work. See the route into electrical work.

Common questions

Does a high rank predict unemployment?
No. The ranking measures exposure to AI capabilities, not whether your employer will adopt them or reduce staff.
Is AI already cutting UK jobs?
The evidence is mixed. The government's review finds hiring has fallen faster in more exposed occupations but says this does not yet show that AI is the cause, and few businesses in the ONS survey report cutting staff because of AI.
Why compare with electricians?
Electrical work is the trade we currently teach. The comparison offers a concrete reference, not a promise about its future.
What if my exact job is missing?
Choose the closest official occupation group and check its title. The source ranks groups rather than every job title.

Sources and checks

  1. 1.The impact of AI on UK jobs and training · Department for Education (Unit for Future Skills)

    Published: 28 November 2023. Checked: 23 October 2026. Coverage: UK. Kind: exposure index. Licence: Open Government Licence v3.0.

    • 365: occupation groups ranked (UK, exposure index). Groups, not individual jobs or workers; exposure is not a job-loss forecast.
    • 38th of 365: programmers and software development professionals (UK, exposure index). Relative AI exposure across occupation groups; it does not predict replacement or an individual's prospects.
    • 246th of 365: electricians and electrical fitters (UK, exposure index). Relative AI exposure across occupation groups; it does not predict replacement or an individual's prospects.

    Supports: The UK occupation rankings and the distinction between exposure and replacement. Conflict: None declared in this source record. Data file

    ↑ Back to text

  2. 2.Assessment of AI capabilities and the impact on the UK labour market · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the AI Security Institute

    Published: 28 January 2026. Checked: 23 October 2026. Coverage: UK. Kind: evidence review. Licence: Open Government Licence v3.0.

    • around 70 per cent: UK workers in occupations with tasks AI could perform or enhance, per IMF estimates (UK, exposure index). IMF estimates as quoted in the government's review; includes work AI may enhance as well as work it may take over.
    • around half: of exposed UK workers in high-complementarity roles, per the IMF (UK, exposure index). A judgement about the social and physical context of work; the review calls such indices indicative.

    Supports: The UK exposure share and complementarity estimates it quotes from the IMF, the limits of exposure measures, and its caution on causation. Conflict: None declared in this source record.

    ↑ Back to text

  3. 3.Artificial intelligence in UK businesses · Office for National Statistics

    Published: 20 July 2026. Checked: 23 October 2026. Coverage: UK. Kind: survey. Licence: Open Government Licence v3.0.

    • around 35 per cent in June 2026: of UK businesses with ten or more employees using at least one AI technology (UK, survey). Self-reported use in a business survey; official statistics in development.
    • 13 per cent in June 2026: of construction businesses using AI (UK, survey). Self-reported use; far below the rate in information and communication businesses.
    • around half: of businesses using AI, of all sizes, reporting no impact on their headcount (UK, survey). Self-reported; many other businesses said the effect was uncertain or not applicable.

    Supports: Business use of AI, the construction figure and reported headcount effects. Conflict: None declared in this source record.

    ↑ Back to text

  4. 4.Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses · Felten, Raj and Seamans, Strategic Management Journal

    Published: 8 May 2021. Checked: 22 October 2026. Coverage: US. Kind: method. Licence: Journal article; cited as the exposure method, nothing reproduced.

    Supports: The underlying exposure method cited by the Department for Education. Conflict: None declared in this source record.

  5. 5.Open Government Licence v3.0 · The National Archives

    Published: undated. Checked: 22 October 2026. Coverage: UK. Kind: licence. Licence: Open Government Licence v3.0.

    Supports: The attribution terms for public sector data. Conflict: None declared in this source record.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. No publisher endorses TradeTraining or this guide.

Changelog

  1. : Added practical questions for interpreting the evidence and structured data for the visible FAQs.
  2. : Added the programmers comparison, the IMF exposure and complementarity estimates as quoted by the government, ONS figures on business AI use and headcount, so exposure sits beside adoption, and a note on the trades we do not teach.
  3. : First publication with the UK occupation check and its method caveats.
Will AI Take My Job? Check Your Work's Exposure | TradeTraining