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AI exposure Personal care and service

Will AI replace barbers?

Barbers. US occupation 39-5011.

0.0%

of the time barbers spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of barbers' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.

Average US job 7.7%

Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.

What AI already does for barbersWhat barbers no longer do alone

O*NET lists 20 tasks for barbers. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

20 of the 20 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Apply lather and shave beards or neck and temple hair contours, using razors.Core task
  • Clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments.Core task
  • Clean work stations and sweep floors.Core task
  • Curl, color, or straighten hair, using special chemical solutions and equipment.Core task
  • Cut and trim hair according to clients' instructions or current hairstyles, using clippers, combs, hand-held blow driers, and scissors.Core task
  • Drape and pin protective cloths around customers' shoulders.Core task
Show the other 14
  • Keep card files on clientele, recording notes of work done, products used and fees charged after each visit.Core task
  • Order supplies.Core task
  • Perform clerical and administrative duties such as keeping records, paying bills, and hiring and supervising personnel.Core task
  • Provide face, neck, and scalp massages.Core task
  • Provide skin care and nail treatments.Core task
  • Question patrons regarding desired services and haircut styles.Core task
  • Recommend and sell lotions, tonics, or other cosmetic supplies.Core task
  • Record services provided on cashiers' tickets or receive payment from customers.Core task
  • Shampoo hair.Core task
  • Shape and trim beards and moustaches, using scissors.Core task
  • Stay informed of the latest styles and hair care techniques.Core task
  • Suggest treatments to alleviate hair problems.Core task
  • Identify hair problems, using microscopes and testing devices, or by sending clients' hair samples out to independent laboratories for analysis.
  • Measure, fit, and groom hairpieces.

How that compares

Among the 27 personal care and service occupations, barbers rank 11. The group averages 1.9%, and its most exposed job is Concierges at 18.8%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Avionics Technicians 0.0%
  2. 346Bailiffs 0.0%
  3. 346Bakers 0.0%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.