UK dataswitch to US
Chemical and related process operatives
adhering to health and safety requirements in the workplace, tracking and recording waste and by-products for environmental compliance and resolving or escalating issues as they arise. If that's your week, this page is about your job.
The honest answer
AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: maintaining cleanliness of work area is work software can't reach.
What shifts is preparing reports on operational results. This page scores what today's tools actually do, not headlines.
Your week, as this page understands it
Chemical and related process operatives operate machinery in the processing of chemical and related materials by chemical, heat or other treatment, manufacture synthetic materials and bleach, dye or otherwise treat textiles, and treat hides, skins and pelts for making into fur, leather and skin products. The job title says “chemical” or “related process operatives”: officially one job, two names. The real job is the part underneath: maintaining cleanliness of work area. 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 chemical and related process operatives is not one task. It is 54 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is maintaining cleanliness of work area, and the ledger below shows exactly why.
Where the work sits, by task weight
- shifting to AI
- 8%
- changing shape
- 5%
- staying human
- 87%
These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.
Whole-job exposure score 15 out of 100 (12–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 54 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 chemical and related process operatives 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.
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.
- 19 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.
Shifting to AI
4 tasksTasks 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.
Recording pressures as operational data
This is reading one thing and writing another: pressures in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 85 · 8113/00Source: “Record pressures as operational data.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 69 out of 100 (65–73 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: Logging pressure readings is data recording, largely captured by instruments already.
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 3/4.
Reviewing laboratory test reports for process adjustments
This is reading one thing and writing another: laboratory test reports in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 80 · 8113/00Source: “Review laboratory test reports for process adjustments.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 68 out of 100 (61–75 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Reading lab results and suggesting process changes is desk work software does well, though plant knowledge decides the call.
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 2/4.
Preparing reports on operational results
This is reading one thing and writing another: reports in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 75 · 8113/00Source: “Prepare reports on operational results, financial performance, and goal accomplishments.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 93 out of 100 (89–97 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: Turning operational and financial data into a performance report is highly automatable.
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 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Calculating material requirements according to formulas
This is reading one thing and writing another: material requirements in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 60 · 8113/00Source: “Calculate material requirements according to formulas.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 93 out of 100 (89–97 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: Working out quantities from a set formula is exactly the sort of calculation software does reliably.
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 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Changing shape
3 tasksTasks 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.
Tracking and recording waste and by-products for environmental compliance
The software now makes the first pass at waste, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 75 · 8113/00Source: “Track and record waste and by-products for environmental compliance.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 49 out of 100 (42–56 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: Waste figures are recorded digitally, so software can compile and check them against the permit conditions.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Filling in digital or paper-based process documentation
The software now makes the first pass at digital, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 70 · 8113/00Source: “Fill in digital or paper-based process documentation, including process and production records.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 49 out of 100 (42–56 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: Filling in process and production records is structured data entry that software already handles, though readings are taken at the plant.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Reporting technical problems encountered during operations
The software now makes the first pass at technical problems encountered during operations, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 55 · 8113/00Source: “Report technical problems encountered during operations.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 56 out of 100 (52–60 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: Writing up technical problems from an operational shift is straightforward reporting.
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 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Staying human
47 tasksTasks 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.
Adhering to health and safety requirements in the workplace
This work happens in the physical world: health, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 8113/00Source: “Adhere to health and safety requirements in the workplace.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 9 out of 100 (2–16 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 rating behind it: The rules are written down, but following them is something a person does with their own hands and habits on the plant floor.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Regulating or shutting down equipment during emergency situations as directed by supervisory personnel
This work happens in the physical world: equipment during emergency situations, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 8113/00Source: “Regulate or shut down equipment during emergency situations as directed by supervisory personnel.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 6 out of 100 (0–13 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Shutting plant down safely means operating it physically, quickly and under instruction from a supervisor who is there.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · 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 2/4.
Maintaining cleanliness of work area
This work happens in the physical world: cleanliness of work area, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 8113/00Source: “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.
Show the other 44 tasks
Reporting equipment malfunctions to the maintenance team for repair
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: equipment malfunctions, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8113/00Source: “Report equipment malfunctions to the maintenance team for repair.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 38 out of 100 (31–45 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: Writing up the fault is easy; noticing it usually means being at the machine.
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 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Proposing ideas for continuous improvement activities
staying humanThe ratings behind this row put ideas well outside what today's tools can do on their own.
importance 80 · 8113/00Source: “Propose ideas for continuous improvement activities.” (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: mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Software suggests general improvements, but the ideas that work come from knowing this particular plant.
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 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Reporting conditions affecting biofuels plant safety in consultation with technical and supervisory staff
staying humanThe ratings behind this row put conditions affecting biofuels plant safety well outside what today's tools can do on their own.
importance 65 · 8113/00Source: “Report conditions affecting biofuels plant safety in consultation with technical and supervisory staff.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 28 out of 100 (21–35 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Software can draft the safety report, but noticing the condition in the first place means being on the plant.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Monitoring chemical processing operations to ensure efficiency and safety
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: chemical processing operations, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8113/00Source: “Monitor chemical processing operations to ensure efficiency and safety.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 25 out of 100 (18–32 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: Software watches the readings well, but an operator still walks the plant and reacts to what they see.
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 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Monitoring chemical process operations to detect malfunctions and maintain safety
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: chemical process operations, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8113/00Source: “Monitor chemical process operations to detect malfunctions and maintain safety.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 25 out of 100 (18–32 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: Alarm data can be read automatically, but catching a fault often means being on the plant to notice it.
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 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Resolving or escalating issues as they arise
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: issues, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8113/00Source: “Resolve or escalate issues as they arise.” (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: Software can suggest next steps, but sorting problems out usually means being on the plant floor.
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.
Informing auxiliary staff to adjust power
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: auxiliary staff, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 8113/00Source: “Inform auxiliary staff to adjust power, steam, water, or air supplies.” (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: Passing on instructions could be automated, but it happens while moving round the plant.
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.
Resolving conditions affecting product quality in consultation with technical and supervisory staff
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: conditions affecting product quality, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8113/00Source: “Resolve conditions affecting product quality in consultation with technical and supervisory staff.” (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: Software can suggest causes, but fixing a quality problem means working on the plant with colleagues.
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.
Interpreting chemical reactions visible through sight glasses or on monitors
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: chemical reactions visible, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8113/00Source: “Interpret chemical reactions visible through sight glasses or on monitors.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Judging a reaction through a sight glass relies on experience that is hard to write down.
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 1/4.
Working as part of the team and contribute to service improvement
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: part of the team, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8113/00Source: “Work as part of the team and contribute to service improvement.” (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: Improving a care service depends on shift-floor experience and colleagues working things out together.
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.
Directing workers engaged in operating machinery that regulates the flow of materials and products
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: workers, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 55 · 8113/00Source: “Direct workers engaged in operating machinery that regulates the flow of materials and products.” (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: Directing machine operators means being there with them and being listened to.
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.
Sending samples to laboratories for analysis to ensure product quality
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: samples, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8113/00Source: “Send samples to laboratories for analysis to ensure product quality.” (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 rating behind it: Samples have to be physically drawn, packed and sent, even though the paperwork is easy to automate.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · 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.
Adjusting equipment positions, speeds, timing and material flows using controls
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: equipment positions, speeds, timing and material flows, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8113/00Source: “Adjust equipment positions, speeds, timing, and material flows using controls.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (1–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Changing speeds and flows means working the controls on the plant itself.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · 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 2/4.
Conducting quality assurance checks to ensure product standards are met
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: quality assurance checks, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8113/00Source: “Conduct quality assurance checks to ensure product standards are met.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (1–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Checking that products meet standards means handling and examining them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · 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 2/4.
Operating or managing equipment in which chemical changes or reactions occur during the processing of industrial or consumer products
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8113/00Source: “Operate or manage equipment in which chemical changes or reactions occur during the processing of industrial or consumer products.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (4–12 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 the equipment where chemical reactions happen means being on the plant with hands on the controls.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · 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 2/4.
Carrying out pre-start checks of equipment and processes before operation or as part of handover
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: pre-start checks of equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8113/00Source: “Carry out pre-start checks of equipment and processes before operation or as part of handover.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 6 out of 100 (0–13 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Checking plant before start-up means walking it and handling controls, and the handover conversation happens between the operatives on shift.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · 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 2/4.
Overseeing the maintenance team in cleaning towers
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: the maintenance team, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 55 · 8113/00Source: “Oversee the maintenance team in cleaning towers, strainers, and spray tips.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 6 out of 100 (0–13 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: Overseeing a cleaning team means being on the plant while the work happens.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · 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 2/4.
Setting up machinery for production
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: machinery, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 8113/00Source: “Set up machinery for production.” (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: Setting machinery up means physically fitting and adjusting 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 2/4.
Cleaning and lubricating equipment as part of machine maintenance
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8113/00Source: “Clean and lubricate equipment as part of machine maintenance.” (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: Cleaning and lubricating a machine 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 1/4.
Maintaining and adjusting equipment for optimal performance
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8113/00Source: “Maintain and adjust equipment for optimal performance.” (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 equipment running well means working on it with tools.
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.
Inspecting operating units, such as towers, soap-spray storage tanks, scrubbers, collectors or dryers to ensure functionality
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: units, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8113/00Source: “Inspect operating units, such as towers, soap-spray storage tanks, scrubbers, collectors, or dryers to ensure functionality.” (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: Checking towers and tanks means walking round and looking at them.
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.
Turning valves to control the processing of materials
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: valves, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8113/00Source: “Turn valves to control the processing of materials.” (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: Turning valves to control processing is hands-on plant operation.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · 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.
Carrying out first line routine maintenance and testing of process and plant equipment
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: first line routine maintenance, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8113/00Source: “Carry out first line routine maintenance and testing of process and plant 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: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Routine maintenance and testing of plant needs hands and tools on the equipment.
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.
Operating a manufacturing batch or continuous process following standard operating procedures
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: a manufacturing batch, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8113/00Source: “Operate a manufacturing batch or continuous process following standard operating procedures.” (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 the process means operating the plant in 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 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Applying salt, chemicals and natural extracts to clean, tan and preserve hides
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: salt, chemicals and natural extracts, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8113/00Source: “Apply salt, chemicals, and natural extracts to clean, tan, and preserve hides.” (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: Treating hides is physical work with chemicals and 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 2/4.
Cleaning machines or equipment to maintain their efficiency
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: machines, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8113/00Source: “Clean machines or equipment to maintain their efficiency.” (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: Cleaning plant and equipment is manual work on the machine itself.
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.
Mixing and loading raw materials into production tanks
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: raw materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8113/00Source: “Mix and load raw materials into production tanks.” (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: Mixing and loading raw materials is heavy 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 2/4.
Performing changeover activities to transition between chemical production batches
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: changeover activities, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8113/00Source: “Perform changeover activities to transition between chemical production batches.” (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: Changeovers mean cleaning and reconfiguring the plant by hand.
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.
Repairing damaged equipment
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: damaged equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8113/00Source: “Repair damaged 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: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Repairs need tools and hands on the equipment.
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.
Staining leather to alter its colour
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: leather, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8113/00Source: “Stain leather to alter its colour.” (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: Staining leather is a physical process.
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.
Collecting samples for laboratory testing as part of quality assurance processes
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: samples, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 8113/00Source: “Collect samples for laboratory testing as part of quality assurance processes.” (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: Collecting a sample means physically drawing it from the process.
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.
Packing discharge or moving goods
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: discharge, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 8113/00Source: “Pack, discharge, or move goods as required.” (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: Packing and moving goods is physical handling.
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.
Starting pumps and open valves to regulate the flow of oil in pipelines and tanks
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: pumps, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 8113/00Source: “Start pumps and open valves to regulate the flow of oil in pipelines and tanks.” (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: Starting pumps and opening valves is done at the plant.
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.
Completing final processing steps, including product finishing and quality checks
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: final processing steps, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8113/00Source: “Complete final processing steps, including product finishing and quality checks.” (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: Finishing and checking the product 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.
Drawing samples of products for quality control tests
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: samples of products, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8113/00Source: “Draw samples of products for quality control tests.” (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: Taking a physical sample from a product requires hands at the production line.
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.
Lowering gauge rods into tanks to check contents
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: gauge rods, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8113/00Source: “Lower gauge rods into tanks to check contents, temperatures, and volumes of liquid loads.” (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: Dipping a tank with a gauge rod is physical work on top of the tank.
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.
Organising materials to prepare for operational
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8113/00Source: “Organise materials to prepare for operational use.” (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: Getting materials ready means moving and handling them.
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.
Patrolling work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: work areas, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8113/00Source: “Patrol work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks or troughs are not in danger of overflowing.” (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: Patrolling tanks to spot overflow risk is about being there to see 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 1/4.
Starting pumps to add products to converter or blending vessels
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: pumps, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8113/00Source: “Start pumps to add products to converter or blending vessels.” (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: Starting pumps means operating plant equipment.
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.
Starting pumps to exhaust gases or vapours
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: pumps, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 55 · 8113/00Source: “Start pumps to exhaust gases or vapours.” (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: Starting pumps is a physical action on the plant.
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.
Carrying out cleaning tasks using appropriate cleaning agents
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: cleaning tasks, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8113/00Source: “Carry out cleaning tasks using appropriate cleaning agents.” (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: Cleaning with the right agents is hands-on work on the surfaces themselves.
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.
Defrosting frozen valves, using steam hoses
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: frozen valves, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8113/00Source: “Defrost frozen valves, using steam hoses.” (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: Steaming a frozen valve is physical work with a hose.
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.
Packing and storing finished batches
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: finished batches, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8113/00Source: “Pack and store finished batches.” (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: Packing and storing batches is physical handling.
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.
Starting pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: pumps, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8113/00Source: “Start pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels.” (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: Washing out a reactor means operating the plant.
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.
What this job pays, and how many people do it
- Median pay
- £34,000a 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
- 34,100in 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: laboratory test reports in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: preparing reports on operational results and recording pressures as operational data. What it cannot do is be there in the room, and that is still where cleanliness of work area gets 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: maintaining cleanliness of work area is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.
So, given all that: 8% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 5% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 87% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 54 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. Preparing reports on operational results 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 laboratory test reports, 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 cleanliness of work area is 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 tracking and recording waste and by-products for environmental compliance. 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 chemical and related process operatives (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was planning, process and production technicians: only about 12% of its durable work is work you already do. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 15/100 here, with only 8% of the task list in the top band, and “adhere to health and safety requirements in the workplace” 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.
Planning, process and production technicians
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “carry out first line routine maintenance and testing of process and plant equipment”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 12% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 12% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on.
Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “carry out first line routine maintenance and testing of process and plant equipment”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 10% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 10% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on. It is a pay cut, in those words: £28,243 against your £33,959, 16.8% less (ASHE Table 14.7a, 2025 provisional (both)). Retraining to earn less is a decision, not advice.
Production managers and directors in manufacturing
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already repair damaged equipment, and their equivalent is to coordinate the repair of damaged equipment to ensure operational efficiency. Across both published task lists that is about 8% of the durable work in that job.
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.
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: 8% of its task weight, across 54 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 maintaining cleanliness of work area 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 Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products 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:
- Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other
- Chemical Plant and System Operators
- Gas Plant Operators
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
In US official statistics this job is counted as Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products, Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other, Chemical Plant and System Operators, Gas Plant Operators, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders, Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic and Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators. 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:
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
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:
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
In Scotland:
My World of Work (Skills Development Scotland)
In Scotland it's My World of Work, from Skills Development Scotland.
Free, publicly funded
In 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 chemical / related process operatives, 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 8% of the work on this page is already inside what they can do.
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 chemical / related process operatives. 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 chemical / related process operatives 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 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 Chemical and related process operatives?
- Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 54 official task statements scored for Chemical and related process operatives (United Kingdom, SOC 8113), 8% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 15 out of 100 (range 12–20, band: minimal). 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 “Chemical and related process operatives” can AI already do?
- The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Prepare reports on operational results, financial performance, and goal accomplishments” (93/100, very high); “Calculate material requirements according to formulas” (93/100, very high); “Record pressures as operational data” (69/100, 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 “Chemical and related process operatives” stay human?
- About 87% 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: “Start pumps to wash and rinse reactor vessels” (0/100, minimal); “Pack and store finished batches” (0/100, minimal); “Defrost frozen valves, using steam hoses” (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 “Chemical and related process operatives” do about AI?
- Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 8% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 87% 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 Chemical and related process operatives 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 54 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.
- The match between this job and its counterpart in the other country is partial, so the two pages count slightly different groups of people.
- 19 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.
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}
}Data as of release 2026-q4.1, published . 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.