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AI exposure Production

Will AI replace upholsterers?

Upholsterers. US occupation 51-6093.

0.0%

of the time upholsterers spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of upholsterers' 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 upholsterersWhat upholsterers no longer do alone

O*NET lists 22 tasks for upholsterers. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

22 of the 22 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Adjust or replace webbing, padding, or springs, and secure them in place.Core task
  • Attach fasteners, grommets, buttons, buckles, ornamental trim, and other accessories to covers or frames, using hand tools.Core task
  • Build furniture up with loose fiber stuffing, cotton, felt, or foam padding to form smooth, rounded surfaces.Core task
  • Examine furniture frames, upholstery, springs, and webbing to locate defects.Core task
  • Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.Core task
  • Interweave and fasten strips of webbing to the backs and undersides of furniture, using small hand tools and fasteners.Core task
Show the other 16
  • Make, restore, or create custom upholstered furniture, using hand tools and knowledge of fabrics and upholstery methods.Core task
  • Measure and cut new covering materials, using patterns and measuring and cutting instruments, following sketches and design specifications.Core task
  • Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces.Core task
  • Remove covering, webbing, padding, or defective springs from workpieces, using hand tools such as hammers and tack pullers.Core task
  • Repair furniture frames and refinish exposed wood.Core task
  • Sew rips or tears in material, or create tufting, using needles and thread.Core task
  • Attach bindings or apply solutions to edges of cut material to prevent raveling.
  • Collaborate with interior designers to decorate rooms and coordinate furnishing fabrics.
  • Design upholstery cover patterns and cutting plans, based on sketches, customer descriptions, or blueprints.
  • Discuss upholstery fabrics, colors, and styles with customers, and provide cost estimates.
  • Draw cutting lines on material following patterns, templates, sketches, or blueprints, using chalk, pencils, paint, or other methods.
  • Maintain records of time required to perform each job.
  • Make, repair, or replace automobile upholstery and convertible and vinyl tops, using knowledge of fabric and upholstery methods.
  • Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery by hand to seam cushions and join various sections of covering material.
  • Pick up and deliver furniture.
  • Stretch webbing and fabric, using webbing stretchers.

How that compares

Among the 98 production occupations, upholsterers rank 94. The group averages 0.8%, and its most exposed job is Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers at 12.1%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Transportation Security Screeners 0.0%
  2. 346Tree Trimmers and Pruners 0.0%
  3. 346Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials 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.