AI exposure Construction and extraction
Will AI replace carpenters?
Carpenters. US occupation 47-2031.
The reading
0.0%
of the time carpenters spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of carpenters' 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.
Per cent of working time Square-law scale
Average US job 7.7%
Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.
What AI already does for carpentersWhat carpenters no longer do alone
O*NET lists 29 tasks for carpenters. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
29 of the 29 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Anchor and brace forms and other structures in place, using nails, bolts, anchor rods, steel cables, planks, wedges, and timbers.Core task
- Arrange for subcontractors to deal with special areas, such as heating or electrical wiring work.Core task
- Assemble and fasten materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.Core task
- Bore boltholes in timber, masonry or concrete walls, using power drill.Core task
- Build or repair cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, or other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenter's hand tools, or power tools.Core task
- Cover subfloors with building paper to keep out moisture and lay hardwood, parquet, or wood-strip-block floors by nailing floors to subfloor or cementing them to mastic or asphalt base.Core task
Show the other 23
- Dig or direct digging of post holes and set poles to support structures.Core task
- Erect scaffolding or ladders for assembling structures above ground level.Core task
- Examine structural timbers and supports to detect decay, and replace timbers as required, using hand tools, nuts, and bolts.Core task
- Fill cracks or other defects in plaster or plasterboard and sand patch, using patching plaster, trowel, and sanding tool.Core task
- Finish surfaces of woodwork or wallboard in houses or buildings, using paint, hand tools, or paneling.Core task
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.Core task
- Inspect ceiling or floor tile, wall coverings, siding, glass, or woodwork to detect broken or damaged structures.Core task
- Install rough door and window frames, subflooring, fixtures, or temporary supports in structures undergoing construction or repair.Core task
- Install structures or fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, or hardware, using carpenters' hand or power tools.Core task
- Maintain job records and schedule work crew.Core task
- Maintain records, document actions, and present written progress reports.Core task
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.Core task
- Perform minor plumbing, welding, or concrete mixing work.Core task
- Prepare cost estimates for clients or employers.Core task
- Remove damaged or defective parts or sections of structures and repair or replace, using hand tools.Core task
- Select and order lumber or other required materials.Core task
- Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.Core task
- Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.Core task
- Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.Core task
- Apply shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative paneling to ceilings or walls.
- Build sleds from logs and timbers for use in hauling camp buildings and machinery through wooded areas.
- Construct forms or chutes for pouring concrete.
- Work with or remove hazardous material.
How that compares
Among the 56 construction and extraction occupations, carpenters rank 10. The group averages 0.4%, and its most exposed job is Structural Iron and Steel Workers at 4.9%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.
Level with 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.