AI exposure Personal care and service
Will AI replace childcare workers?
Childcare Workers. US occupation 39-9011.
The reading
1.2%
of the time childcare workers spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of childcare workers' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.
Ranked 334 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 55% of them.Further along than 55% of them.
Per cent of working time Square-law scale
Average US job 7.7%
Around the middle of the pack.Keeping pace with the average job.
What AI already does for childcare workersWhat childcare workers no longer do alone
O*NET lists 41 tasks for childcare workers. AI use at work shows up in 1 of them. Each score runs from 0.5, where every observed use helps a person with the task, to 1, where every use does the task outright.
- Create developmentally appropriate lesson plans.Core task mostly automated 0.88
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
40 of the 41 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Assign appropriate chores and praise targeted behaviors to encourage development of self-control, self-confidence, and responsibility.Core task
- Assist in preparing food and serving meals and refreshments to children.Core task
- Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.Core task
- Discipline children and recommend or initiate other measures to control behavior, such as caring for own clothing and picking up toys and books.Core task
- Dress children and change diapers.Core task
- Help develop or monitor family schedule.Core task
Show the other 34
- Help prepare and serve nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children.Core task
- Identify signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring them to parents' or guardians' attention.Core task
- Instruct and assist children in the development of health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet behavior.Core task
- Instruct children in health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet habits.Core task
- Instruct children in safe behavior, such as seeking adult assistance when crossing the street and avoiding contact with unsafe objects.Core task
- Keep records of play, meal schedules, and bill payment.Core task
- Keep records on individual children, including daily observations and information about activities, meals served, and medications administered.Core task
- Maintain a safe play environment.Core task
- Meet regularly with parents to discuss children's activities and development.Core task
- Model appropriate social behaviors and encourage concern for others to cultivate development of interpersonal relationships and communication skills.Core task
- Observe and monitor children's play activities.Core task
- Observe children's behavior for irregularities, take temperature, transport children to doctor, or administer medications, as directed, to maintain children's health.Core task
- Organize and conduct age-appropriate recreational activities, such as games, arts and crafts, sports, walks, and play dates.Core task
- Organize and participate in recreational activities and outings, such as games and field trips.Core task
- Organize and store toys and materials to ensure order in activity areas.Core task
- Perform first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when required.Core task
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as taking attendance, editing internal paperwork, and making phone calls.Core task
- Perform housekeeping and cleaning duties related to children's care.Core task
- Perform housekeeping duties, such as laundry, cleaning, dish washing, and changing of linens.Core task
- Read to children and teach them simple painting, drawing, handicrafts, and songs.Core task
- Regulate children's rest periods and nap schedules.Core task
- Regulate children's rest periods.Core task
- Remove hazards and develop appropriate boundaries and rules to create a safe environment for children.Core task
- Sanitize toys and play equipment.Core task
- Supervise and assist with homework.Core task
- Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.Core task
- Teach and perform age-appropriate activities, such as lap play, reading, and arts and crafts, to encourage intellectual development of children.Core task
- Transport children to schools, social outings, and medical appointments.Core task
- Work with parents to develop and implement discipline programs to promote desirable child behavior.Core task
- Accompany children to and from school, on outings, and to medical appointments.
- Help children with homework and school work.
- Perform general personnel functions, such as supervision, training, and scheduling.
- Shop for groceries, clothing, and other items needed for children's care.
- Sterilize bottles and prepare formulas.
How that compares
Among the 27 personal care and service occupations, childcare workers rank 8. The group averages 1.9%, and its most exposed job is Concierges at 18.8%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.
Just above in the ranking
- 331Roofers 1.6%
- 332Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 1.5%
- 333Industrial Production Managers 1.3%
Just below
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.