Futureproof
Menu

UK dataswitch to US

Painters and decorators

applying coats of paint to surfaces for decoration or protection, preparing surfaces and level off uneven areas and removing old finishes using hand tools. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: applying coats of paint to surfaces for decoration or protection is work software can't reach.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

What shifts is calculating and estimating paint volume requirements for each job. This page scores what today's tools actually do, not headlines.

Your week, as this page understands it

Those working in this unit group apply paint, varnish, wallpaper and other protective and decorative materials to interior and exterior walls and surfaces, paint designs on wood, glass, metal, plastics and other materials, and stain, wax and French polish wood surfaces by hand. The job title says “painters” or “decorators”: officially one job, two names. The real job is the part underneath: applying coats of paint to surfaces for decoration or protection. 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 painters and decorators is not one task. It is 40 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is applying coats of paint to surfaces for decoration or protection, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI
0%
changing shape
5%
staying human
95%

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

Whole-job exposure score 6 out of 100 (5–11 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 40 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 painters and decorators 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.

Shifting to AI

0 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.

Nothing in this job’s scored task list landed in this group. That is the measurement, not an editorial choice, and it is worth knowing either way.

Changing shape

2 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.

  • Calculating and estimating paint volume requirements for each job

    The software now makes the first pass at paint volume requirements, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Calculate and estimate paint volume requirements for each job.” (UK task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 56 out of 100 (49–63 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: Working out how much paint a job needs is arithmetic from measurements and coverage rates, which software does reliably.

    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.

  • Reading job sheets to determine required processes

    The software now makes the first pass at job sheets, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 70 · 5323/00
    Source: “Read job sheets to determine required processes, techniques, materials, or equipment.” (UK task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 56 out of 100 (49–63 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: Working out from a job sheet what materials and methods are needed is paperwork reading that software handles 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 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Staying human

38 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.

  • Applying coats of paint to surfaces for decoration or protection

    This work happens in the physical world: coats of paint, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 95 · 5323/00
    Source: “Apply coats of paint to surfaces for decoration or protection.” (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 coats of paint onto a surface needs a person with a brush or spray gun in the room.

    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.

  • Applying paint or finishes to structures using brushes or rollers

    This work happens in the physical world: paint, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 95 · 5323/00
    Source: “Apply paint or finishes to structures using brushes or rollers.” (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: Rolling and brushing paint onto walls is hands-on work that has to happen on site.

    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.

  • Applying varnishes and paints to surfaces to achieve desired finish and protection

    This work happens in the physical world: varnishes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 95 · 5323/00
    Source: “Apply varnishes and paints to surfaces to achieve desired finish and protection.” (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 varnish or paint to a surface is physical work no software can carry out.

    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.

  • Applying primer coats to prepare surfaces for painting

    This work happens in the physical world: primer coats, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 90 · 5323/00
    Source: “Apply primer coats to prepare surfaces for painting.” (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: Priming a surface means physically coating it, which needs a person standing at the wall.

    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.

  • Covering surfaces with dust sheets or masking tape and paper to protect during painting

    This work happens in the physical world: surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 90 · 5323/00
    Source: “Cover surfaces with dust sheets or masking tape and paper to protect during painting.” (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: Masking up and laying protective sheets is entirely hands-on work in the room.

    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.

  • Laying dust sheets to protect surfaces during painting

    This work happens in the physical world: dust sheets, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 90 · 5323/00
    Source: “Lay dust sheets to protect surfaces during painting.” (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: Laying dust sheets is purely physical work done in the room being decorated.

    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.

  • Mixing and matching colours of paint

    This work happens in the physical world: colours of paint, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Mix and match colours of paint, stain, or varnish with oil or thinning and drying additives to obtain desired colours and consistencies.” (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: Deciding a mix is a judgement call, but matching colour and consistency happens by hand with real tins.

    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 1/4.

  • Covering interior walls and ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper or fabric

    This work happens in the physical world: interior walls, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Cover interior walls and ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper or fabric, using hand tools.” (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: Hanging wallpaper or fabric is skilled hands-on work that must be done at the wall.

    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 30 tasks

  • Measuring surfaces to estimate required material quantities

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 80 · 5323/00
    Source: “Measure surfaces to estimate required material quantities.” (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: Software works out quantities quickly, but someone still has to physically measure the surfaces first.

    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.

  • Reporting any non-compliances promptly

    staying human

    The ratings behind this row put any non-compliances well outside what today's tools can do on their own.

    importance 50 · 5323/00
    Source: “Report any non-compliances promptly.” (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: mistakes that are cheap to catch.

    The rating behind it: Writing up the report is easy for software, but someone has to spot the problem on site first.

    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 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Purchasing selected tools or finishes for surfaces

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: selected tools, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 50 · 5323/00
    Source: “Purchase selected tools or finishes for surfaces.” (UK task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 29 out of 100 (22–36 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: Choosing the right finish for a particular surface takes trade judgement, and collecting goods means a trip to the merchant.

    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 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Planning and preparing materials

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 75 · 5323/00
    Source: “Plan and prepare materials.” (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: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.

    The rating behind it: Deciding what materials a job needs can be worked out on a screen, but getting them ready is physical.

    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 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Receiving instructions from supervisors or homeowners to understand work requirements

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: instructions, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 60 · 5323/00
    Source: “Receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to understand work requirements.” (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: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: A brief is easy to write up, but customers usually explain what they want face to face on site.

    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 2/4.

  • Complying with occupational health, safety and environmental requirements to ensure wellbeing

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: occupational health, safety and environmental requirements, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 75 · 5323/00
    Source: “Comply with occupational health, safety, and environmental requirements to ensure wellbeing.” (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: The rules can be written up easily, but working safely with ladders, dust and solvents is something the decorator does on site.

    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.

  • Filling cracks, holes or joints with caulk, filler, plaster or other fillers

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: cracks, holes or joints, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, filler, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.” (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: Filling cracks with filler or caulk needs hands and tools on the surface 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 1/4.

  • Filling in holes with appropriate materials for surface preparation

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: holes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Fill in holes with appropriate materials for surface preparation.” (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: Filling holes is physical preparation work carried out directly on the surface.

    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.

  • Mixing, and applying staining to wood surfaces

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: wood surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Mix and apply stain to wood surfaces.” (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 brushing wood stain onto timber is hands-on work at the surface.

    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.

  • Polishing final coats on surfaces to specified finishes for aesthetic appeal

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: final coats, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Polish final coats on surfaces to specified finishes for aesthetic appeal.” (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: Polishing a finish to the right sheen is done by hand on the surface.

    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.

  • Preparing surfaces and level off uneven areas

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Prepare surfaces and level off uneven areas.” (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: Levelling and preparing a surface is physical work carried out on site.

    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.

  • Removing old finishes using hand tools

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: old finishes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Remove old finishes using hand tools, stripping tools, sandpaper, steel wool, abrasives, solvents, or dip baths.” (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: Stripping old finishes needs tools, abrasives and hands on the surface.

    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.

  • Sanding rough spots to ensure that finishes will adhere properly

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: rough spots, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Sand rough spots to ensure that finishes will adhere properly.” (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: Sanding rough spots is hands-on preparation done at the surface.

    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.

  • Smoothing surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, wire wool or sanding machines

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, wire wool, or sanding machines.” (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: Smoothing surfaces with abrasives or a sander is entirely 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.

  • Stripping off old wallpaper or layers of paint

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: old wallpaper, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Strip off old wallpaper or layers of paint.” (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: Stripping wallpaper or old paint is physical work done at the wall.

    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.

  • Using the appropriate tools and equipment to prepare substrates and apply decorative materials to industry standards

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: the appropriate tools, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 85 · 5323/00
    Source: “Use the appropriate tools and equipment to prepare substrates and apply decorative materials to industry standards.” (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 tools to prepare substrates and apply finishes is hands-on trade 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.

  • Brushing or spraying lettering or decorations on surfaces

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: decorations, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 80 · 5323/00
    Source: “Brush or spray lettering or decorations on surfaces.” (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: Brushing or spraying lettering onto a surface is skilled physical handwork.

    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.

  • Creating wall or surface patterns using stencils

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: wall, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 80 · 5323/00
    Source: “Create wall or surface patterns using stencils.” (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: Stencilling a pattern onto a wall is done by hand at the wall 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 1/4.

  • Mixing paint to the desired shade using computerised colour-matching equipment

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: paint, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 80 · 5323/00
    Source: “Mix paint to the desired shade using computerised colour-matching 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: The colour-matching machine already does the calculation; the person loads, mixes and checks the tin.

    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.

  • Preparing the work site by setting out the work and selecting materials

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: the work site, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 80 · 5323/00
    Source: “Prepare the work site by setting out the work and selecting materials, tools, and equipment appropriate for the project.” (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 out the work and getting materials and tools ready happens physically on site.

    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 fixtures like pictures, door handles, lamps or electric switch covers prior to painting

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: fixtures like pictures, door handles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 80 · 5323/00
    Source: “Remove fixtures like pictures, door handles, lamps, or electric switch covers prior to painting.” (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 down handles, covers and light fittings is physical work in the room.

    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.

  • Washing and treating surfaces with oil

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 80 · 5323/00
    Source: “Wash and treat surfaces with oil, turpentine, mildew remover, or other preparations.” (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 and treating surfaces with solutions is hands-on preparation on site.

    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.

  • Realising scenic finishes

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: scenic finishes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 75 · 5323/00
    Source: “Realise scenic finishes using techniques such as faux finishes, 3D textures, and painting.” (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: Creating faux finishes and textures is skilled handwork applied directly to the surface.

    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.

  • Cleaning painting tools and equipment

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: tools, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 70 · 5323/00
    Source: “Clean painting tools and 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: Cleaning brushes, rollers and spray kit is purely 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.

  • Maintaining a clear and safe worksite at all times

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: a clear, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 70 · 5323/00
    Source: “Maintain a clear and safe worksite at all times.” (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 a worksite clear and safe is physical work done there.

    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.

  • Tidying up the work area after completing tasks

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: the work area after completing tasks, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 70 · 5323/00
    Source: “Tidy up the work area after completing tasks.” (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: Clearing and tidying a work area is physical work done in the space 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 1/4.

  • Using ladders and scaffolding to complete work

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: ladders, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 70 · 5323/00
    Source: “Use ladders and scaffolding to complete work.” (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: Working from ladders and scaffolding is physical presence at height.

    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.

  • Erecting scaffolding for elevated work areas

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: elevated work areas, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 60 · 5323/00
    Source: “Erect scaffolding for elevated work areas.” (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; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Putting up scaffold or a tower is physical assembly work, and the person doing it needs recognised scaffold training.

    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 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Setting up swing gates to work above ground level

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: swing gates, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 60 · 5323/00
    Source: “Set up swing gates to work above ground level.” (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: Rigging swing gates for work at height is physical set-up on site.

    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.

  • Transporting, moving, positioning and lifting materials to site, following good handling practices

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 50 · 5323/00
    Source: “Transport, move, position, and lift materials to site, following good handling practices.” (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: Moving and lifting materials 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.

What this job pays, and how many people do it

Median pay
£32,800a 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
86,200in 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: paint volume requirements in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: calculating and estimating paint volume requirements for each job. What it cannot do is be there in the room, and that is still where coats of paint 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: applying coats of paint to surfaces for decoration or protection is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 0% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 5% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 95% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 40 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. Calculating and estimating paint volume requirements for each job 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 paint volume requirements, 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 coats of paint 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 calculating and estimating paint volume requirements for each job. 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 painters and decorators (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was vehicle paint technicians: only about 21% of its durable work is work you already do and there are far fewer of those jobs than of yours. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 6/100 here, with only 0% of the task list in the top band, and “apply coats of paint to surfaces for decoration or protection” 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.

  • Vehicle paint 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: “apply coats of paint to surfaces for decoration or protection”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 21% 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 21% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on. And it is a narrow door: about 15,500 of those jobs against 86,200 of yours (ONS via Nomis), 18% as many seats.

    Look at that job’s page anyway →

  • Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers

    Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, wire wool, or sanding machines”. 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 →

  • Vehicle body builders and repairers

    Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “cover surfaces with dust sheets or masking tape and paper to protect during painting”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 5% 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 5% 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: 0% of its task weight, across 40 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 applying coats of paint to surfaces for decoration or protection 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 Painters, Construction and Maintenance 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 Painters, Construction and Maintenance and Paperhangers. 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.

Why there is no community here

Collab365, who build this site, run paid Spaces for a small number of subjects, and none of them is built for this job. We are not going to point you at the nearest one and call it a fit.

So the free services listed on this page are the whole answer, and it is the same answer we would give a friend.

Noted, and thank you. We’ll email you if a Space for painters / decorators 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 painters / decorators 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 painters / decorators existed, with researched problems, courses and people in the same boat, would you want in?

We use your email address for one thing: to tell you if a Space for painters / decorators 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 Painters and decorators?
Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 40 official task statements scored for Painters and decorators (United Kingdom, SOC 5323), 0% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 6 out of 100 (range 5–11, 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 “Painters and decorators” can AI already do?
The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Calculate and estimate paint volume requirements for each job” (56/100, partial); “Read job sheets to determine required processes, techniques, materials, or equipment” (56/100, partial); “Measure surfaces to estimate required material quantities” (38/100, low). 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 “Painters and decorators” stay human?
About 95% 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: “Transport, move, position, and lift materials to site, following good handling practices” (0/100, minimal); “Set up swing gates to work above ground level” (0/100, minimal); “Erect scaffolding for elevated work areas” (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 “Painters and decorators” do about AI?
Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 0% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 95% 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 Painters and decorators 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 40 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.
  • 5 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.

How we score a jobDownload this releaseLook up another job

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 . 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.