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AI exposure Construction and extraction

Will AI replace Helpers--Pipelayers?

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. US occupation 47-3015.

0.0%

of the time Helpers--Pipelayers spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of Helpers--Pipelayers' 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 Helpers--PipelayersWhat Helpers--Pipelayers no longer do alone

O*NET lists 15 tasks for Helpers--Pipelayers. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

15 of the 15 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.Core task
  • Clean shop, work area, and machines, using solvent and rags.Core task
  • Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.Core task
  • Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.Core task
  • Disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe.Core task
  • Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service.Core task
Show the other 9
  • Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.Core task
  • Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.Core task
  • Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.Core task
  • Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.Core task
  • Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site.Core task
  • Clean and renew steam traps.
  • Fill pipes with sand or resin to prevent distortion, and hold pipes during bending and installation.
  • Immerse pipe in chemical solution to remove dirt, oil, and scale.
  • Install gas burners to convert furnaces from wood, coal, or oil.

How that compares

Among the 56 construction and extraction occupations, Helpers--Pipelayers rank 31. 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%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Helpers--Extraction Workers 0.0%
  2. 346Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers 0.0%
  3. 346Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons 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.