Will AI replace Beauticians and related occupations?

Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 62 official task statements scored for Beauticians and related occupations (United Kingdom, SOC 6222), 15% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 20 out of 100 (range 17–25, band: low). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.

Which tasks in “Beauticians and related occupations” can AI already do?

The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Arrange appointments for clients and staff across various sectors” (85/100, very high); “Research and stay informed about the latest make-up and beauty products” (83/100, very high); “Respond to customer enquiries” (79/100, high). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.

Which tasks in “Beauticians and related occupations” stay human?

About 76% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Teach group exercise for low-, medium-, or high-risk clients to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning” (0/100, minimal); “Measure body fat using equipment like hydrostatic scales, skinfold callipers, or tape measures” (0/100, minimal); “Demonstrate warm-up exercises to prepare for physical activity” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.

What should someone working in “Beauticians and related occupations” do about AI?

Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 15% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 76% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.

How is the AI exposure score for Beauticians and related occupations calculated?

Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 62 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

UK dataswitch to US

Beauticians and related occupations

giving advice on the care of the piercing, demonstrating how to clean and care for skin properly and adhering to health and safety requirements in the workplace. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI is already taking a real slice of the routine work here: arranging appointments for clients and staff across various sectors. That is a slice of tasks, not of you.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 15%
changing shape: 8%
staying human: 76%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

Whole-job exposure score 20 out of 100 (17–25 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, across 62 scored tasks. The number is the support for the sentence above it, not a headline about anyone’s future.

How we know this

What is measured: Every published task statement for beauticians and related occupations is rated on five dimensions: can a model produce the output, does the work need a body in a room, does it need a legally accountable person, does it depend on a person being trusted in the moment, and how much data exists. A published formula turns those five ratings into the score; the model never writes the number.

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.

That slice is not coming back; the core of the job, following strict hygiene procedures to ensure client safety and cleanliness, stays yours. The tools change hands, the accountability doesn't.

Your week, as this page understands it

Beauticians and related workers give facial and body beauty treatments, apply cosmetics and dress wigs. The job title says “beauticians” or “related occupations”: officially one job, two names. The real job is the part underneath: following strict hygiene procedures to ensure client safety and cleanliness. That is the thing someone has to be right about.

The exposed part of this job is specific, and we won’t pretend it is coming back. But beauticians and related occupations is not one task. It is 62 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is following strict hygiene procedures to ensure client safety and cleanliness, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 15%
changing shape: 8%
staying human: 76%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

How we know this

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.

Your job, task by task

These are the official task statements for this occupation, in plain English, sorted by what the evidence says is happening to each one. The official wording sits under every line so you can check the rewrite against it.

Shifting to AI

10 tasks

Tasks today’s tools can already do most of. This is the part we will not soften: where these rows are the bulk of your week, the week changes.

Arranging appointments for clients and staff across various sectors
This is reading one thing and writing another: appointments in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 50 · 6222/01, 6222/03
Source: “Arrange appointments for clients and staff across various sectors.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 85 out of 100 (81–89 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Booking appointments is scheduling work that online systems already do from start to finish.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 4/4.
Designing and recommending programmes to encourage increased physical activity in daily life
This is reading one thing and writing another: programmes in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 85 · 6222/04
Source: “Design and recommend programmes to encourage increased physical activity in daily life.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 64 out of 100 (57–71 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Suggestions for building activity into daily life are well documented and easy to tailor automatically.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Monitoring participants' progress and adapt programmes
This is reading one thing and writing another: participants' progress in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 85 · 6222/04
Source: “Monitor participants' progress and adapt programmes as needed.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 64 out of 100 (57–71 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Tracking results over time and adjusting a plan is pattern work that software does quickly from recorded measurements.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Researching and staying informed about the latest make-up and beauty products
This is reading one thing and writing another: informed in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 80 · 6222/02
Source: “Research and stay informed about the latest make-up and beauty products.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 83 out of 100 (76–90 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Keeping up with new products is reading and summarising publicly available information.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 4/4.

Changing shape

5 tasks

Tasks where the machine takes the producing and a person keeps the checking, the deciding, or the answering-for-it. For most jobs this is the biggest group, and it is where "transformation, not termination" is literally visible.

Giving advice on the care of the piercing
The software now makes the first pass at advice, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 95 · 6222/01
Source: “Give advice on the care of the piercing.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 48 out of 100 (44–52 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Aftercare guidance is standard, well-documented information that software can write up accurately for the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Advising customers on nail care and products
The software now makes the first pass at customers, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 90 · 6222/03
Source: “Advise customers on nail care and products.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 48 out of 100 (44–52 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Advice on looking after nails and choosing products is standard information that software can write well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Recommending skin-care regimens
The software now makes the first pass at skin-care regimens, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 85 · 6222/02
Source: “Recommend skin-care regimens.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 48 out of 100 (41–55 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Recommending a routine is written advice built on well-documented product knowledge.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Staying human

47 tasks

Tasks that stay with a person, because they happen in the physical world, because the rules need someone accountable, or because the value is that a specific person does them.

Following strict hygiene procedures to ensure client safety and cleanliness
This work happens in the physical world: strict hygiene procedures, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 95 · 6222/01, 6222/03
Source: “Follow strict hygiene procedures to ensure client safety and cleanliness.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Sterilising tools and keeping the workstation clean has to be done by hand, in the salon.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Puncturing the skin to insert piercing
This work happens in the physical world: the skin, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 95 · 6222/01
Source: “Puncture the skin to insert piercing.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Making the piercing is a physical act performed on a person who is present.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Selecting, and applying cosmeticing products
This work happens in the physical world: products, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 95 · 6222/02
Source: “Select and apply cosmetic products, such as creams, lotions, and tonics.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Putting creams and cosmetics on a client's face is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

Show the other 52 tasks

Responding to customer enquiries
shifting to AI
This is reading one thing and writing another: customer enquiries in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 70 · 6222/01
Source: “Respond to customer enquiries.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 79 out of 100 (75–83 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Answering customer questions from known information is something software already does at speed and scale.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Recording client needs and preferences in the company database
shifting to AI
This is reading one thing and writing another: client needs in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 75 · 6222/02
Source: “Record client needs and preferences in the company database.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (71–79 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Writing client preferences into the salon system is straightforward record-keeping, though the details come from the conversation.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Maintaining records of clients
shifting to AI
This is reading one thing and writing another: records of clients in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 75 · 6222/03
Source: “Maintain records of clients.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (71–79 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Salon client records are simple treatment histories with no outside approval needed, so software keeps them easily.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Collecting payments from customers
shifting to AI
This is reading one thing and writing another: payments in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 70 · 6222/03
Source: “Collect payments from customers.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (71–79 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Card machines and online booking deposits already take payments without the salon working anything out.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 4/4.
Developing exercise programmes to enhance participant strength
shifting to AI
This is reading one thing and writing another: exercise programmes in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 80 · 6222/04
Source: “Develop exercise programmes to enhance participant strength, flexibility, endurance, and circulatory health, following exercise science and regulatory standards.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (68–82 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Exercise programme design follows published principles and templates, so software can produce a solid plan.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Interviewing patients to obtain their medical histories
shifting to AI
This is reading one thing and writing another: patients in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 70 · 6222/04
Source: “Interview patients to obtain their medical histories.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 64 out of 100 (57–71 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: A salon health questionnaire is a standard form software can gather and flag, since no clinician has to sign it off.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Explaining exercise programme or physiological testing procedures to participants
changing shape
The software now makes the first pass at exercise programme, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 75 · 6222/04
Source: “Explain exercise programme or physiological testing procedures to participants.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 48 out of 100 (41–55 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Explaining what a programme or test involves is standard information that can be written or recorded once and reused.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Interviewing participants to assess their goals
changing shape
The software now makes the first pass at participants, but the part that matters is a person saying it and standing behind it. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 85 · 6222/04
Source: “Interview participants to assess their goals.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 40 out of 100 (33–47 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Online consultation forms already capture goals well, though clients often decide what they really want while talking it through.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Demonstrating how to clean and care for skin properly
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: how, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/02
Source: “Demonstrate how to clean and care for skin properly.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 32 out of 100 (25–39 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: The advice is standard and easy to write down, but showing someone how still happens in person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Teaching behaviour modification classes
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles behaviour modification classes and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 75 · 6222/04
Source: “Teach behaviour modification classes related to topics such as stress management or weight control.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 24 out of 100 (17–31 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: The course content is easy to produce, but a group changing habits together relies on the person leading the room.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Evaluating staff performance in leading group exercise and conducting diagnostic tests
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: staff performance, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 6222/04
Source: “Evaluate staff performance in leading group exercise and conducting diagnostic tests.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 24 out of 100 (17–31 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Appraisals can be drafted from records, but judging how someone leads a class means watching sessions and talking it through.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Determining which products or colours will improve clients' skin quality and appearance
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: products, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6222/02
Source: “Determine which products or colours will improve clients' skin quality and appearance.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 21 out of 100 (14–28 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Shade-matching software helps, but judging someone's skin usually means seeing and touching it in person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Assessing physical performance requirements to develop individualised recovery or rehabilitation exercise programmes
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: physical performance requirements, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6222/04
Source: “Assess physical performance requirements to develop individualised recovery or rehabilitation exercise programmes.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 21 out of 100 (9–33 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, low confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Programme design is well documented, but judging what a client's body can handle involves seeing and testing them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Adhering to health and safety requirements in the workplace
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: health, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/01
Source: “Adhere to health and safety requirements in the workplace.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 20 out of 100 (13–27 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: The rules are easy to write down, but actually following them in the treatment room is something a person does.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Providing instruction in makeup application to clients
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: instruction, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6222/02
Source: “Provide instruction in makeup application to clients.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 20 out of 100 (13–27 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Teaching someone to apply their own makeup relies on watching and correcting them in the room.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Maintaining safe working methods to comply with legal and industry standards
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: safe working methods, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6222/03
Source: “Maintain safe working methods to comply with legal and industry standards.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 19 out of 100 (12–26 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: The rules are written down and easy to summarise, but working safely mostly means doing things properly at the desk.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Designing and implementing exercise therapy programmes for patients
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: exercise therapy programmes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 6222/04
Source: “Design and implement exercise therapy programmes for patients.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 18 out of 100 (11–25 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: The programme can be drafted from published guidance, but taking a client through the movements happens in the room.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Storing chemicals correctly to ensure safety
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: chemicals, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6222/03
Source: “Store chemicals correctly to ensure safety.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 14 out of 100 (7–21 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Knowing the storage rules is easy to look up, but putting the chemicals away safely is physical.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Consulting, planning and providing nail art services to customers/clients
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: nail art services, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/03
Source: “Consult, plan, and provide nail art services to customers/clients.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 12 out of 100 (5–19 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: The design ideas can be generated easily, but applying nail art is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Verifying customers' identification to ensure age requirements for piercing are met
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: customers' identification, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6222/01
Source: “Verify customers' identification to ensure age requirements for piercing are met.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Checking a customer's ID against the person standing there is done face to face, though software already helps estimate age.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Providing excellent customer service by understanding the needs and expectations of customers
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: excellent customer service, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6222/01
Source: “Provide excellent customer service by understanding the needs and expectations of customers.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Good service here comes from reading the customer standing in front of you.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Examining clients' skin, using magnifying lamps or visors when necessary, to evaluate skin condition and appearance
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: clients' skin, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6222/02
Source: “Examine clients' skin, using magnifying lamps or visors when necessary, to evaluate skin condition and appearance.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (7–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Looking closely at skin under a lamp needs the client in the chair, even though photo analysis is improving.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Assessing the condition of clients' hands
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the condition of clients' hands, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/03
Source: “Assess the condition of clients' hands.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Judging the condition of someone's hands usually means seeing and feeling them, though photographs help.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Supervising fitness or wellness specialists
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: fitness, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 6222/04
Source: “Supervise fitness or wellness specialists, such as fitness instructors, nutritionists, or health educators.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (7–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Supervising instructors depends on watching them work and building a working relationship with them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Advising clients with chronic or potentially contagious scalp conditions to seek medical treatment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: clients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 6222/02
Source: “Advise clients with chronic or potentially contagious scalp conditions to seek medical treatment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Spotting a scalp condition needs looking at it closely, and the advice is given face to face.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Demonstrating correct use of exercise equipment to clients for weight management
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: correct use of exercise equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/04
Source: “Demonstrate correct use of exercise equipment to clients for weight management.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Showing a client how to use a machine safely happens in the gym, with the trainer watching their form.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Disposing of waste in a safe and appropriate manner
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: waste, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6222/01
Source: “Dispose of waste in a safe and appropriate manner.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Bagging and disposing of salon waste correctly is physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Sterilising medical equipment to ensure safe use in patient care
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: medical equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/01
Source: “Sterilise medical equipment to ensure safe use in patient care.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Sterilising instruments means physically cleaning and running equipment through a steriliser.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Maintaining cleanliness of work area
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: cleanliness of work area, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/02
Source: “Maintain cleanliness of work area.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Keeping the work area tidy is physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Tinting eyelashes and eyebrows
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: eyelashes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 6222/02
Source: “Tint eyelashes and eyebrows.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Applying tint to someone's lashes and brows is hands-on work on a person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Implementing and performing treatments using techniques like micro-current
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: treatments, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6222/02
Source: “Implement and perform treatments using techniques like micro-current, microdermabrasion, and LED light to improve facial skin and muscle condition.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Running micro-current, microdermabrasion or LED treatments means operating equipment on a client's face.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Performing chemical peels to improve skin texture and appearance
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: chemical peels, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 6222/02
Source: “Perform chemical peels to improve skin texture and appearance.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Applying a chemical peel means working on a client's skin with your hands.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Performing simple extractions to remove blackheads
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: simple extractions, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 6222/02
Source: “Perform simple extractions to remove blackheads.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Removing blackheads is done by hand on a client who is present.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Applying or repairing false nails
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: false nails, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 95 · 6222/03
Source: “Apply or repair false nails, tips and enhancements.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Fitting and repairing false nails is hands-on work at the nail desk.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Providing manicures to enhance clients' nail appearance
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: manicures, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 95 · 6222/03
Source: “Provide manicures to enhance clients' nail appearance.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: A manicure is physical work carried out on a client's hands.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Applying undercoat and clearing or coloured varnish onto nails with brush
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: undercoat, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6222/03
Source: “Apply undercoat and clear or coloured varnish onto nails with brush.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Painting varnish onto nails is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Cleaning or sanitising work areas
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: work areas, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6222/03
Source: “Clean or sanitise work areas, utensils, or equipment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cleaning surfaces, utensils and equipment needs someone physically doing it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Extending nails using powder, solvent and paper forms attached to tips of customers' fingers to support and shaping artificial nails
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: nails, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6222/03
Source: “Extend nails using powder, solvent, and paper forms attached to tips of customers' fingers to support and shape artificial nails.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Building nail extensions is delicate hands-on work at the desk.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Polishing customer nails
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: customer nails, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6222/03
Source: “Polish customer nails.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Polishing nails is physical work on a client's hands.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Shaping and smoothing ends of nails
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: ends of nails, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6222/03
Source: “Shape and smooth ends of nails, using scissors, files, or nail files.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Filing and shaping nails is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Decorating nails with coloured varnish
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: nails, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/03
Source: “Decorate nails with coloured varnish, transfers, gems or glitter.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Applying varnish, transfers and gems to nails is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Maintaining cleanliness and organization in the workplace
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: cleanliness, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/03
Source: “Maintain cleanliness and organization in the workplace, including cleaning, disinfection, and waste disposal.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cleaning, disinfecting and taking out waste has to be done in the building.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Preparing nail cuticles with water and oil, using cuticle knives to push back cuticles and scissors or nippers to trim cuticles
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: nail cuticles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/03
Source: “Prepare nail cuticles with water and oil, using cuticle knives to push back cuticles and scissors or nippers to trim cuticles.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Pushing back and trimming cuticles is delicate hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Removing previously applied nail varnish
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: applied nail varnish, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/03
Source: “Remove previously applied nail varnish, using liquid remover and swabs.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Taking off old varnish is hands-on work on a client's nails.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Treating nails to repair or improve strength and resilience by wrapping
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: nails, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/03
Source: “Treat nails to repair or improve strength and resilience by wrapping.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Wrapping nails to strengthen them is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Using rotary abrasive wheels to shape and smooth nails or artificial extensions
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: rotary abrasive wheels, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6222/03
Source: “Use rotary abrasive wheels to shape and smooth nails or artificial extensions.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Using an abrasive drill on nails is hands-on work on a client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Decorating clients' nails by piercing
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: clients' nails, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6222/03
Source: “Decorate clients' nails by piercing.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Piercing a nail to add decoration is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Removing dead skin from clients' hands
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: dead skin, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6222/03
Source: “Remove dead skin from clients' hands.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Removing dead skin from a client's hands is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Whitening underside of nails with white paste or pencils
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: underside of nails, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6222/03
Source: “Whiten underside of nails with white paste or pencils.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Applying whitening paste under the nail tips is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Demonstrating warm-up exercises to prepare for physical activity
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: warm-up exercises, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6222/04
Source: “Demonstrate warm-up exercises to prepare for physical activity.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Leading a warm-up means moving through it in front of the group.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Measuring body fat using equipment like hydrostatic scales
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: body fat, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6222/04
Source: “Measure body fat using equipment like hydrostatic scales, skinfold callipers, or tape measures.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Taking callipers, tape or scale measurements means physically measuring the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Teaching group exercise for low-
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: group exercise, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6222/04
Source: “Teach group exercise for low-, medium-, or high-risk clients to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–7 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Leading a live exercise class is physical presence in front of the group.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

What this job pays, and how many people do it

Median pay: £24,100a year, before tax, the middle of the range, so half earn more and half earn less.ashe-t14, 2025 · ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
How we know this
Source: ashe-t14
Reference period: ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)
Rounding: Shown to the nearest £100. The exact published figure is in the downloadable dataset. We do not render pounds the survey cannot support.
People doing this job: 90,100in the UK, 2026.nomis-aps · Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period)This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.

What is deliberately not here: a forecast of how many of these jobs exist in ten years. Where an official projection exists for a market we publish it with its vintage; where it does not, we leave the space empty rather than borrow the other country’s number.

Why this is shifting

The reason is boringly specific. Most of what is shifting here is reading one thing and writing another: appointments in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: arranging appointments for clients and staff across various sectors and designing and recommending programmes to encourage increased physical activity in daily life. What it cannot do is be there in the room, and that is still where strict hygiene procedures get done. Which is why this page talks about your tasks changing, not your job ending.

Your move

Over a pint: what I’d tell you if you were my friend

Start with what does not change: following strict hygiene procedures to ensure client safety and cleanliness is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 15% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 8% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 76% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 62 scored tasks. It is not a forecast about you.

So the thing worth your attention is not the job going away. It is the layer around it. Arranging appointments for clients and staff across various sectors is the part turning into software, and being the person who understands that layer is worth money.

This week: one thing

Ask the one question. Find whoever is bringing new software into your workplace (the manager, the office, whoever runs the system) and ask them what it is meant to do to appointments, and what it is not meant to touch. Ten minutes, this week, before anyone decides it for you.

What you end up holding: a straight answer about what is actually being rolled out, and when
How long it takes: ten minutes

If there’s nobody obvious to ask, or you’d rather not ask your manager: Put the same question to your union rep, your shift lead or the person who has been there longest, in person, over a break. Same ten minutes, same answer, and you will usually get a straighter one. Write down what they say. The note is the artifact, and it tells you whether strict hygiene procedures are in scope or not. Nothing to log into, no licence needed.

Over the next 90 days

Get inside the tool rollout rather than waiting for it. Over the next ninety days, ask to be in the group that tests, checks or signs off whatever new system arrives near giving advice on the care of the piercing. It is usually an unglamorous seat that nobody fights for, and it is the one that decides how the software is used on your job rather than to it.

Over the next 12 months

On this evidence I would not retrain out of this job, and I will say that plainly rather than hedge it. The task list here is dominated by work that stays with a person. What I would do with a year is get formally recognised for the layer around it (the systems, the compliance, the planning), so you are the one who understands the software instead of the one it is done to. Before you pay for anything, spend an hour with National Careers Service. It is free and government-funded, and it is listed below with the rest of the free routes.

The roads out of here, and why I am not sending you down them

I looked at the obvious moves out of this job, and here is what I found.

I checked the 12 nearest UK occupations to beauticians and related occupations (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was fitness and wellbeing instructors: only about 9% of its durable work is work you already do. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 20/100 here, with only 15% of the task list in the top band, and “follow strict hygiene procedures to ensure client safety and cleanliness” is not work that hands over cleanly. None of them beats deepening what you already have.

How that was checked: this job was compared against all 412 UK occupations in this release on their official task statements, and the 12 nearest were examined one by one. A move that turns on an industry, an employer or a qualification rather than on the work itself will not show up in a check like that. And this release carries no licence register, so anything you are weighing needs that looked up separately.

3 moves I checked and rejected

These are the obvious-looking jumps. They are here with their reasons rather than quietly dropped, because the ones that fail are worth knowing about. It is one less thing to turn over at night.

Fitness and wellbeing instructors
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already demonstrate correct use of exercise equipment to clients for weight management, and their equivalent is to demonstrate correct use of exercise equipment to clients for safe workouts. Across both published task lists that is about 9% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 9% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Health associate professionals n.e.c.
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “follow strict hygiene procedures to ensure client safety and cleanliness”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 8% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 8% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already sterilise medical equipment to ensure safe use in patient care, and their equivalent is to disinfect or sterilise medical equipment. Across both published task lists that is about 1% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 1% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step.
Look at that job’s page anyway →

What I’d stop worrying about

A friend tells you what not to spend fear on. This is that list.

The headline number you read somewhere
The big “X% of jobs” figures are about the whole economy, not about you. The number that describes your job is on this page: 15% of its task weight, across 62 scored tasks. Every row behind it is printed above with the source. Check ours; ignore theirs.
The headlines about your trade disappearing
They are usually about the technology, not the timetable. Changes to work like following strict hygiene procedures to ensure client safety and cleanliness arrive through rules, insurance and money, slowly and visibly. This page tracks the task evidence and will move when it moves.
Retraining out of a job that is holding up
On this evidence I would not spend money leaving. Spend it on the layer around the job instead: the tools, the paperwork, the planning. That is where the change actually is.
The “obvious” next job everyone suggests
I checked the obvious moves and most of them did not survive. The reasons are printed with the routes above, including the pay and the gate. A move that fails on the numbers is worth knowing about so you can stop turning it over at night.

You are reading the United Kingdom figures

The United States splits this work across more than one official group, of which First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services is the closest. The pay and employment figures are not directly comparable, and we do not average them together.

Switch to the United States page →partial match

The other groups this work is counted across:

In US official statistics this job is counted as First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services, First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers, Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance, Manicurists and Pedicurists, Shampooers and Skincare Specialists. Pay is shown separately for each of those groups (medians cannot be averaged together), while the task list and the scores on this page are for this group only.

Your route through this

Where to go next, and what it costs

Free, and complete

The moves above cost nothing. These are the real services that go with them: public, government-funded, and free at the point of use. Nothing on this page is behind an email address or a payment.

In England:
National Careers Service
A free hour with a government-funded careers adviser is worth more than another evening of reading. In England that's the National Careers Service.
Free, government-funded
- Discover your skills and careers (the skills assessment)
In England:
National Careers Service - Find a course
Search what's actually running near you before you spend anything.
Free to search; individual courses vary
In England:
Free courses for jobs (Level 3 qualifications)
A free Level 3 qualification you already qualify for beats a paid course you don't need.
Free for eligible adults
In England:
Skills Bootcamps
Free, up to 16 weeks, and you get a job interview at the end. In England these are Skills Bootcamps - search what's running near you.
Free for eligible adults in England
- Skills Bootcamps - what they are and who can do them (DfE, Skills for Careers)
- Skills Bootcamps - JobHelp (DWP)
In Scotland:
My World of Work (Skills Development Scotland)
In Scotland it's My World of Work, from Skills Development Scotland.
Free, publicly funded
- Skills Development Scotland
In Wales:
Careers Wales
In Wales it's Careers Wales.
Free, Welsh Government-funded
In Northern Ireland:
Careers Service Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland it's the Careers Service on nidirect.
Free, Department for the Economy-funded

No Space for this job, but one for what is happening to it

Nothing Collab365 runs is built for beauticians / related occupations, and we are not going to point you at the nearest one and call it a fit.

There is one that is not about a job title at all. The AI Authority is about being the person who directs these tools at work rather than the person they get compared to. That is worth saying here, because 15% of the work on this page is already inside what they can do.

Try The AI Authority free →

7 days free, no card needed. Explore up to 2 Spaces before you choose a plan: you pick a plan later, not now.

The AI Authority is a general community about working with AI, not a course for beauticians / related occupations. You do not need it to act on anything here: the moves above cost nothing and stand on their own. The data on this page is the same either way.

Noted, and thank you. We’ll email you if a Space for beauticians / related occupations launches. Nothing else.

That did not look like an email address, so nothing was saved. Have another go below.

We could not save that. The fault is ours, not yours, and your address was not stored. Please try again later.

No Space for beauticians / related occupations yet. Should there be one?

Collab365 Spaces is built by the same people as this site. We find the problems that AI and automation are creating inside one kind of work, then solve them as short courses, briefings and Blueprints. Each Space is the community too, so the research and the people doing your job are in the same place.

What a Space actually is, in full

Collab365 launches new communities where the need is real. If one for beauticians / related occupations existed, with researched problems, courses and people in the same boat, would you want in?

Your email

We use your email address for one thing: to tell you if a Space for beauticians / related occupations launches. We never sell it, never use it for unrelated marketing, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Our privacy policy has the full version.

This unlocks nothing. Every figure, every row and every step on this page is already yours, whether you fill this in or not.

No deadline on any of this. The page will still be here, and the data is refreshed on a published schedule rather than when someone wants a headline.

Questions people ask about this job

Will AI replace Beauticians and related occupations?: Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 62 official task statements scored for Beauticians and related occupations (United Kingdom, SOC 6222), 15% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 20 out of 100 (range 17–25, band: low). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.
Which tasks in “Beauticians and related occupations” can AI already do?: The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Arrange appointments for clients and staff across various sectors” (85/100, very high); “Research and stay informed about the latest make-up and beauty products” (83/100, very high); “Respond to customer enquiries” (79/100, high). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.
Which tasks in “Beauticians and related occupations” stay human?: About 76% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Teach group exercise for low-, medium-, or high-risk clients to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning” (0/100, minimal); “Measure body fat using equipment like hydrostatic scales, skinfold callipers, or tape measures” (0/100, minimal); “Demonstrate warm-up exercises to prepare for physical activity” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.
What should someone working in “Beauticians and related occupations” do about AI?: Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 15% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 76% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.
How is the AI exposure score for Beauticians and related occupations calculated?: Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 62 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

Where these numbers come from

About the data on this page

Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.
One task scored differently between repeat runs, so its range on this page is wider. We would rather show the wobble than hide it.
One row is marked low confidence, so treat it as a ballpark rather than a fine measurement.
The match between this job and its counterpart in the other country is partial, so the two pages count slightly different groups of people.
18 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Task statements: gaisi-indexProcessing: catalogue-bridge → ssc-relatedness-weighting → task-scoring → score-aggregation
Task weights: gaisi-index (relatedness)
Scores: Rubric task_scoring_v1.0, model claude-opus-5, computed 2026-08-05.
Pay and employment: ashe-t14 (ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025))nomis-aps (Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period))

Figures on this page come from release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Every release keeps its own permanent address, so a figure you cite in March is still there, unchanged, in November.

The plain-English wording on this page is assembled directly from the task statements and the published ratings, not written by hand for this occupation. That is why it is specific, and it is also why we say so.

The routes and free resources further up are today’s, not the release’s (last reviewed 2026-08-05). A route is an offer, not a historical fact, so it moves on its own clock.

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Using these figures?

Cite this

Everything on this site is published under CC BY 4.0. Quote it, chart it, sell something built on it. Just say where it came from, and cite the dated release rather than the site, so the figure you quote stays checkable.

Plain text

Collab365 (2026). Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1 (methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0). https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Built with O*NET data (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); ONS data (Open Government Licence v3.0); GAISI task framework (arXiv:2507.22748, MIT); BLS data (public domain).

BibTeX

@misc{collab365futureproof2026q41,
  title        = {Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1},
  author       = {{Collab365}},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1},
  note         = {Release 2026-q4.1, methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0, CC BY 4.0}
}

Permalink

https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1

Data as of release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Releases never change after publication; when the figures move, a new dated release is published beside this one and this one stays exactly where it is.