Will AI replace Paper and wood machine operatives?

Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 47 official task statements scored for Paper and wood machine operatives (United Kingdom, SOC 8131), 2% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 8 out of 100 (range 6–13, 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 “Paper and wood machine operatives” can AI already do?

The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Determine product specifications and materials according to blueprints, instructions, drawings, or work orders” (75/100, high); “Select the appropriate type of wood for a specific product” (56/100, partial); “Read specifications, such as blueprints, charts, or schematics, to determine machine settings or adjustments” (43/100, partial). 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 “Paper and wood machine operatives” stay human?

About 93% 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: “Sharpen tools such as saws, picks, spades, screwdrivers, and scoops, either manually or by using bench grinders and emery wheels” (0/100, minimal); “Move finished products to storage areas ready for despatch” (0/100, minimal); “Lift and position metal stock or workpieces in machines, securing them with fasteners and hand tools, manually or using hoists” (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 “Paper and wood machine operatives” do about AI?

Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 2% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 93% 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 Paper and wood machine 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 47 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

UK dataswitch to US

Paper and wood machine operatives

monitoring paper and wood processing operations to detect malfunctions and maintain standards, selecting the proper cutting tools needed to machine workpieces into the desired shapes and identifying faults in products to maintain quality standards. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: adjusting saw blades is work software can't reach.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 2%
changing shape: 6%
staying human: 93%

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

Whole-job exposure score 8 out of 100 (6–13 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 47 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 paper and wood machine 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.

What shifts is determining product specifications and materials. This page scores what today's tools actually do, not headlines.

Your week, as this page understands it

Paper and wood machine operatives operate machines to treat and cut wood, to produce, treat and cut paper, paperboard, leatherboard, plasterboard and similar material, and to assemble and make wooden crates and containers. The job title says “paper” or “wood machine operatives”: officially one job, two names. The real job is the part underneath: adjusting saw blades, using spanners and rulers or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers or panel buttons. 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 paper and wood machine operatives is not one task. It is 47 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is adjusting saw blades, using spanners and rulers or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers or panel buttons, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 2%
changing shape: 6%
staying human: 93%

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

How we know this

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

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

Your job, task by task

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

22 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

1 task

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.

Determining product specifications and materials
This is reading one thing and writing another: product specifications in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 60 · 8131/00
Source: “Determine product specifications and materials according to blueprints, instructions, drawings, or work orders.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (71–79 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Reading blueprints and work orders to set out specifications and materials is structured desk work software does reliably.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Changing shape

3 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.

Reading specifications, such as blueprints, charts or schematics, to determine machine settings or adjustments
The software now makes the first pass at specifications, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 70 · 8131/00
Source: “Read specifications, such as blueprints, charts, or schematics, to determine machine settings or adjustments.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 43 out of 100 (36–50 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Reading schematics and charts to find the right settings is information work, usually done at the machine.
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 3/4.
Selecting the appropriate type of wood for a specific product
The software now makes the first pass at the appropriate type of wood, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 60 · 8131/00
Source: “Select the appropriate type of wood for a specific product.” (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: Which timber suits which product is well documented, so the choice can largely be looked up.
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.
Interpreting and following detailed technical drawings to guide tasks
The software now makes the first pass at detailed technical drawings, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 60 · 8131/00
Source: “Interpret and follow detailed technical drawings to guide tasks.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 43 out of 100 (36–50 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Reading drawings is increasingly something software does well, but acting on them on a live project still needs someone present.
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 3/4.

Staying human

43 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.

Monitoring paper and wood processing operations to detect malfunctions and maintain standards
This work happens in the physical world: paper, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 8131/00
Source: “Monitor paper and wood processing operations to detect malfunctions and maintain standards.” (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: Software reads machine sensors well, but spotting problems on a running line still needs someone watching and listening at the machine.
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.
Inspecting logs or timber to determine optimal cutting plans
This work happens in the physical world: logs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8131/00
Source: “Inspect logs or timber to determine optimal cutting plans.” (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: Cutting plans can be worked out by software, but judging each log means handling it in the yard.
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.
Adjusting saw blades
This work happens in the physical world: saw blades, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8131/00
Source: “Adjust saw blades, using spanners and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.” (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 handwheels and fitting blades is hands-on work at the machine.
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.
Cutting and shaping timber
This work happens in the physical world: timber, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8131/00
Source: “Cut and shape timber for floorboards, doors, skirting boards and window frames.” (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: Cutting and shaping timber is done with tools on the material.
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 raw materials and recycled paper into pulp
This work happens in the physical world: raw materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8131/00
Source: “Mix raw materials and recycled paper into pulp.” (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: Loading and mixing raw materials into pulp is physical work in 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.
Operating machines to cut, mould or shape woodstock or wood substitutes
This work happens in the physical world: machines, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8131/00
Source: “Operate machines to cut, mould, or shape woodstock or wood substitutes.” (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: Cutting and shaping timber on a machine takes a person feeding and controlling the 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.

Show the other 37 tasks

Selecting the proper cutting tools needed to machine workpieces into the desired shapes
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the proper cutting tools, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8131/00
Source: “Select the proper cutting tools needed to machine workpieces into the desired shapes.” (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: Tooling guides are well documented so software can advise, but the choice is made standing at the machine with the stock.
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.
Monitoring production processes and reporting any operational issues
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: production processes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8131/00
Source: “Monitor production processes and report any operational issues.” (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: Writing up issues is easy for software, but noticing them still means being on the production 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 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Checking the quality of finished paper and wood products
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the quality of finished paper, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8131/00
Source: “Check the quality of finished paper and wood 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: Quality checks rely on handling and looking at the actual product on the line.
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.
Inspecting workpieces for defects to ensure product quality
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: workpieces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8131/00
Source: “Inspect workpieces for defects to ensure product quality.” (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: Finding defects means picking up and examining the actual pieces.
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.
Monitoring and adjusting sawing machines for speed and tension to ensure proper operation
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: machines, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8131/00
Source: “Monitor and adjust sawing machines for speed and tension to ensure proper operation.” (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: Setting speed and tension is done at the machine by hand, even though the readings are simple to interpret.
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.
Identifying faults in products to maintain quality standards
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: faults, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8131/00
Source: “Identify faults in products to maintain quality standards.” (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: Spotting faults depends on handling and examining the real products.
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.
Inspecting stock for imperfections
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: stock, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8131/00
Source: “Inspect stock for imperfections.” (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: Checking stock means physically looking over and handling the material.
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 control panels of conveyor systems to move stock through processes
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: control panels of conveyor systems, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8131/00
Source: “Operate control panels of conveyor systems to move stock through processes.” (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: Running the conveyor controls needs someone present at the panel.
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.
Rectifying identified defects in work methods and equipment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: identified defects, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8131/00
Source: “Rectify identified defects in work methods and equipment.” (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: Putting right a faulty method or piece of equipment means working on it directly.
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.
Estimating grades or qualities of stock or workpieces
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: grades, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8131/00
Source: “Estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces.” (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: Grading depends on handling the material and on know-how that is rarely written down.
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.
Setting up machinery for production
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: machinery, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8131/00
Source: “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.
Cutting grooves, bevels or mitres according to specifications
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: grooves, bevels or mitres, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8131/00
Source: “Cut grooves, bevels, or mitres according to specifications.” (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: Cutting timber to a specification is done with hands on the machine.
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.
Guiding workpieces against saws to ensure precise cuts
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: workpieces against saws, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8131/00
Source: “Guide workpieces against saws to ensure precise cuts.” (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: Feeding a workpiece into a saw needs a person holding 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.
Measuring and marking cutting lines on materials
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: lines, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8131/00
Source: “Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.” (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: Measuring and marking material means working on the timber 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 3/4.
Operating saws or machines to cut timber to specified dimensions
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: saws, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8131/00
Source: “Operate saws or machines to cut timber to specified dimensions.” (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 a saw to cut timber is physical machine 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.
Sanding wood components for assembly
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: wood components, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8131/00
Source: “Sand wood components for assembly.” (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 is hands-on work on the component.
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.
Attaching and adjusting guides, stops, clamps, chucks or feed mechanisms, using hand tools
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: guides, stops, clamps, chucks or feed mechanisms, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8131/00
Source: “Attach and adjust guides, stops, clamps, chucks, or feed mechanisms, 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: Fitting clamps, chucks and guides with hand tools is manual work at the machine.
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.
Clearing machine blockages using hand tools
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: machine blockages, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8131/00
Source: “Clear machine blockages 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: Clearing a blockage with hand tools 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 2/4.
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 75 · 8131/00
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.
Positioning and securing wood components for assembly
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: wood components, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8131/00
Source: “Position and secure wood components for assembly.” (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: Holding and fixing timber components in place is manual assembly work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Removing finished workpieces from machines
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: finished workpieces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8131/00
Source: “Remove finished workpieces from 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: Taking finished pieces off a machine needs 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 1/4.
Stacking finished workpieces for storage or shipment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: finished workpieces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8131/00
Source: “Stack finished workpieces for storage or shipment.” (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: Stacking finished workpieces is manual handling done on the floor.
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 joint assembly, mechanical fixings and adhesives to form products according to specifications
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: joint assembly, mechanical fixings and adhesives, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8131/00
Source: “Apply joint assembly, mechanical fixings, and adhesives to form products according to specifications.” (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: Assembling parts with fixings and adhesives 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 2/4.
Cleaning paper and wood processing tools and equipment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: paper, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8131/00
Source: “Clean paper and wood processing 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 machinery is hands-on work in the workshop.
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.
Engaging automatic feeding mechanisms to feed tools to and along workpieces
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: automatic feeding mechanisms, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8131/00
Source: “Engage automatic feeding mechanisms to feed tools to and along workpieces.” (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: Operating the feed mechanism on a machine needs a person at the controls.
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 assembled or finished products to ensure conformance
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: assembled, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8131/00
Source: “Inspect assembled or finished products to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.” (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: Measuring finished products with precision instruments requires 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.
Installing gluing attachments to machines
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: attachments, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8131/00
Source: “Install gluing attachments to 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: Fitting gluing attachments is done by hand at the machine.
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.
Lubricating machines using spanners, grease guns or solvents
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: machines, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8131/00
Source: “Lubricate machines using spanners, grease guns, or solvents.” (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: Greasing and oiling machinery is physical maintenance 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.
Replacing worn tools using hand tools
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: worn tools, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8131/00
Source: “Replace worn tools 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: Swapping worn tools is done with hand 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 1/4.
Trimming rough edges from strips
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: rough edges, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8131/00
Source: “Trim rough edges from strips, using straightedges and trimming 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: Trimming rough edges with a knife is bench 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.
Mounting attachments and tools, such as pantographs, engravers or routers
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: attachments, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8131/00
Source: “Mount attachments and tools, such as pantographs, engravers, or routers, to perform other operations, such as drilling or boring.” (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: Fitting routers and engravers to 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 2/4.
Pulling tables back against stops and depress pedals to advance cutterheads that shape stock ends
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: tables back against stops, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8131/00
Source: “Pull tables back against stops and depress pedals to advance cutterheads that shape stock ends.” (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: This is direct physical operation of the machine with hands and feet.
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.
Unloading and rolling logs from lorries to sawmill decks using pike poles
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: logs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8131/00
Source: “Unload and roll logs from lorries to sawmill decks using pike poles.” (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 logs off lorries with pike poles 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 1/4.
Disposing of waste material after completing work assignments
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: waste material after completing work assignments, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8131/00
Source: “Dispose of waste material after completing work assignments.” (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 away waste material 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.
Lifting and positioning metal stock or workpieces in machines
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: metal stock, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8131/00
Source: “Lift and position metal stock or workpieces in machines, securing them with fasteners and hand tools, manually or using hoists.” (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: Lifting and securing metal stock 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.
Moving finished products to storage areas ready for despatch
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: finished products, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8131/00
Source: “Move finished products to storage areas ready for despatch.” (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 finished goods to storage is lifting and carrying that needs a person 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.
Sharpening tools, saws, picks, spades, screwdrivers and scoops
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: tools, saws, picks, spades, screwdrivers and scoops, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8131/00
Source: “Sharpen tools such as saws, picks, spades, screwdrivers, and scoops, either manually or by using bench grinders and emery wheels.” (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: Sharpening tools is done at the grinder.
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: £30,400a 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: 21,500in 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: product specifications in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: determining product specifications and materials and reading specifications, such as blueprints, charts or schematics. What it cannot do is be there in the room, and that is still where saw blades 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: adjusting saw blades is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 2% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 6% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 93% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 47 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. Determining product specifications and materials 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 product specifications, 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 saw blades 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 reading specifications, such as blueprints, charts or schematics, to determine machine settings or adjustments. 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 paper and wood machine operatives (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was metal working machine operatives: only about 20% of its durable work is work you already do. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 8/100 here, with only 2% of the task list in the top band, and “monitor paper and wood processing operations to detect malfunctions and maintain standards” 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.

Metal working machine 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: “clear machine blockages using hand tools”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 20% 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 20% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Metal machining setters and setter-operators
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “attach and adjust guides, stops, clamps, chucks, or feed mechanisms, using hand tools”. 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.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Packers, bottlers, canners and fillers
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “stack finished workpieces for storage or shipment”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 9% 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 9% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step. It is a pay cut, in those words: £26,152 against your £30,360, 13.9% less (ASHE Table 14.7a, 2025 provisional (both)). Retraining to earn less is a decision, not advice.
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: 2% of its task weight, across 47 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 adjusting saw blades 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 Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood 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 Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood, Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing, Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders, Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders and Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. Pay is shown separately for each of those groups (medians cannot be averaged together), while the task list and the scores on this page are for this group only.

Your route through this

Where to go next, and what it costs

Free, and complete

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

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

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 paper / wood machine 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 Space for paper / wood machine operatives 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 paper / wood machine operatives existed, with researched problems, courses and people in the same boat, would you want in?

Your email

We use your email address for one thing: to tell you if a Space for paper / wood machine operatives 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 Paper and wood machine operatives?: Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 47 official task statements scored for Paper and wood machine operatives (United Kingdom, SOC 8131), 2% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 8 out of 100 (range 6–13, 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 “Paper and wood machine operatives” can AI already do?: The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Determine product specifications and materials according to blueprints, instructions, drawings, or work orders” (75/100, high); “Select the appropriate type of wood for a specific product” (56/100, partial); “Read specifications, such as blueprints, charts, or schematics, to determine machine settings or adjustments” (43/100, partial). 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 “Paper and wood machine operatives” stay human?: About 93% 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: “Sharpen tools such as saws, picks, spades, screwdrivers, and scoops, either manually or by using bench grinders and emery wheels” (0/100, minimal); “Move finished products to storage areas ready for despatch” (0/100, minimal); “Lift and position metal stock or workpieces in machines, securing them with fasteners and hand tools, manually or using hoists” (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 “Paper and wood machine operatives” do about AI?: Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 2% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 93% 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 Paper and wood machine 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 47 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.
22 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 job Download this release Look 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 2026-08-05. Releases never change after publication; when the figures move, a new dated release is published beside this one and this one stays exactly where it is.