Will AI replace Stonemasons and related trades?

Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 59 official task statements scored for Stonemasons and related trades (United Kingdom, SOC 5312), 0% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 5 out of 100 (range 3–9, 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 “Stonemasons and related trades” can AI already do?

The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Identify and confirm masonry requirements against surveys, job sheets, and specifications in accordance with Building Regulations” (38/100, low); “Interpret the appropriate work plan for the job, considering factors like building age, listed status, and accessibility” (33/100, low); “Select chisels, pneumatic tools, or sandblasting nozzles and determine their use sequence” (25/100, 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 “Stonemasons and related trades” stay human?

About 100% 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: “Remove mould and wallpaper from walls to prepare surfaces for restoration” (0/100, minimal); “Insert paper into moulds to prevent sticking or seepage” (0/100, minimal); “Exert pressure on moulds to ensure good adhesion” (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 “Stonemasons and related trades” do about AI?

Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 0% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 100% 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 Stonemasons and related trades 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 59 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

Stonemasons and related trades

clearing away leftover materials upon project completion, cleaning excess mortar or grout from the surface of marble and smoothing the mortar to an attractive finish using a tuck pointer. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: clearing away leftover materials upon project completion 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: 0%
changing shape: 0%
staying human: 100%

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

Whole-job exposure score 5 out of 100 (3–9 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 59 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 stonemasons and related trades 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 2026-08-05. Read the full method.

What shifts is the routine end of the work. This page scores what today's tools actually do, not headlines.

Your week, as this page understands it

Stonemasons erect and repair structures of stone and similar materials and cut, shape and polish granite, marble, slate and other stone for building, ornamental and other purposes. The job title says “stonemasons” or “related trades”: officially one job, two names. The real job is the part underneath: clearing away leftover materials upon project completion. 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 stonemasons and related trades is not one task. It is 59 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is clearing away leftover materials upon project completion, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 0%
changing shape: 0%
staying human: 100%

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 2026-08-05. 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.

18 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

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

0 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.

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.

Staying human

59 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.

Clearing away leftover materials upon project completion
This work happens in the physical world: away leftover materials upon project completion, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5312/01, 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Clear away leftover materials upon project completion.” (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 leftover materials off a finished job is physical labour.
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.
Repairing, modifying, maintaining or replacing a variety of masonry types
This work happens in the physical world: a variety of masonry types, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5312/01, 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Repair, modify, maintain or replace a variety of masonry types.” (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: Repairing and replacing masonry is skilled hand 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.
Interpreting the appropriate work plan for the job
The ratings behind this row put the appropriate work plan well outside what today's tools can do on their own.
importance 75 · 5312/01, 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Interpret the appropriate work plan for the job, considering factors like building age, listed status, and accessibility.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 33 out of 100 (26–40 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Rules on older and listed buildings are published, so software can draft the approach, though consent decisions rest with the council.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Identifying and confirming masonry requirements against surveys
The ratings behind this row put masonry requirements against surveys well outside what today's tools can do on their own.
importance 70 · 5312/01, 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Identify and confirm masonry requirements against surveys, job sheets, and specifications in accordance with Building Regulations.” (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.
The rating behind it: Comparing job sheets, surveys and specifications is document work software does well, with building control checking compliance afterwards.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Setting out basic masonry on buildings/structures
This work happens in the physical world: basic masonry, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/01, 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Set out basic masonry on buildings/structures.” (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: Setting out means measuring and marking the actual building, though the calculations behind it are simple.
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.
Disposing of waste according to the appropriate code of practice
This work happens in the physical world: waste, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 5312/01, 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Dispose of waste according to the appropriate code of practice.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 15 out of 100 (8–22 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; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: The codes and transfer notes are documents software handles, but moving waste requires a registered waste carrier and physical clearing.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Locating, handling, storing, loading, transporting and positioning materials and tools safely
This work happens in the physical world: materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 5312/01, 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Locate, handle, store, load, transport and position materials and tools safely, minimising damage and complying with health and safety regulations.” (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, moving and setting down materials safely 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.
Selecting, checking and using tools, equipment and materials appropriate for the task
This work happens in the physical world: this work, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 5312/01, 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Select, check, and use tools, equipment, and materials appropriate for the task.” (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: Picking up and using the right tools and materials is the physical work itself.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Delivering work to the manufacturer's and customer's quality specifications
This work happens in the physical world: work, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/01, 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Deliver work to the manufacturer's and customer's quality specifications.” (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: The specification can be read and checked on screen, but producing stonework that meets it is skilled physical work.
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.
Carving rough designs on stone freehand or by chipping along marks
This work happens in the physical world: rough designs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Carve rough designs on stone freehand or by chipping along marks using mallets, chisels, or pneumatic 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: Carving a design into stone is done freehand with mallet and chisel.
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 49 tasks

Selecting chisels, pneumatic tools or sandblasting nozzles and determining their use sequence
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: chisels, pneumatic tools or sandblasting nozzles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/02
Source: “Select chisels, pneumatic tools, or sandblasting nozzles and determine their use sequence.” (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: The usual order of tools is well known, but the choice depends on the stone the mason is looking at.
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.
Following conservation ethics and procedures in restoration activities
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: conservation ethics, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5312/01, 5312/03
Source: “Follow conservation ethics and procedures in restoration activities.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Conservation guidance is written down and easy to summarise, but applying it happens with tools on the structure.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Preparing and mixing lime mortars for use in stonemasonry
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: lime mortars, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Prepare and mix lime mortars for use in stonemasonry.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: A lime mortar recipe can be worked out on paper, but gauging and mixing it happens on site.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Verifying the positions of cutting tools with measuring instruments
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the positions of cutting tools, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/02
Source: “Verify the positions of cutting tools with measuring instruments.” (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: Checking tool positions with measuring instruments is done at the machine with the stone in place.
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.
Laying out wall patterns or foundations
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: wall patterns, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5312/01, 5312/03
Source: “Lay out wall patterns or foundations, using straight edge, ruler, or staked lines.” (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: The setting out is calculated, but the lines are pegged and marked on the actual ground or wall.
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.
Laying out designs or dimensions on stone surfaces from sketches or blueprints
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: designs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5312/02
Source: “Lay out designs or dimensions on stone surfaces from sketches or blueprints using scribes, chalk, and measuring instruments.” (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 the design out on the stone itself is done by hand with scribes and chalk.
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.
Examining artistic materials to plan appropriate carving or cutting techniques
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: artistic materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/02
Source: “Examine artistic materials to plan appropriate carving or cutting techniques.” (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: Judging how to cut a particular block means examining the actual stone in front of you.
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.
Conserving existing stonemasonry, brickwork or earthen structures on Heritage Structures using heritage techniques
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: stonemasonry, brickwork or earthen structures, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5312/01, 5312/03
Source: “Conserve existing stonemasonry, brickwork, or earthen structures on Heritage Structures using heritage techniques.” (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: Conserving old stone and brickwork is skilled handwork on the building itself.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Removing, installing and repairing basic external stonemasonry structures and stone cladding
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: basic external stonemasonry structures, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5312/01, 5312/03
Source: “Remove, install and repair basic external stonemasonry structures and stone cladding.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Removing, fitting and repairing external stonework is physical site 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.
Aligning posts, by lines or sighting and verifying vertical alignment of posts
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: posts, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/01, 5312/03
Source: “Align posts, by lines or sighting, and verify vertical alignment of posts, using plumb bobs or spirit levels.” (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: Sighting and plumbing posts happens with tools in hand at the fence line.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 0/4.
Constructing complex masonry structures to industry standards and specifications
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: complex masonry structures, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/01, 5312/03
Source: “Construct complex masonry structures to industry standards and 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: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Building complex masonry is physical craft work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Repairing cracked or chipped areas of stone or marble using blowtorch and mastic
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: cracked, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/01, 5312/03
Source: “Repair cracked or chipped areas of stone or marble using blowtorch and mastic.” (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: Repairing chipped stone with a blowtorch and mastic is done by hand.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Shaping, trimming and face marble or stone preparatory
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: face marble, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/01, 5312/03
Source: “Shape, trim, and face marble or stone preparatory to setting, using power saws, cutting equipment, and 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: Shaping and facing stone with saws and hand tools is manual craft 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.
Guiding stone onto foundation, using skids, hoist or lorry crane
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: stone, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 5312/01, 5312/03
Source: “Guide stone onto foundation, using skids, hoist, or lorry crane.” (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: Guiding a heavy stone onto its foundation is a physical lift with a crane or skids.
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 smooth and shaping surfaces using hand tools
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: smooth, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 5312/01, 5312/03
Source: “Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces 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: Trimming and shaping by hand is skilled 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.
Excavating trench for foundation of monument
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: trench, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/01, 5312/03
Source: “Excavate trench for foundation of monument, using pick and shovel.” (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: Digging a foundation trench with pick and shovel is entirely physical.
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.
Fixing and securing memorial stonemasonry
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: memorial stonemasonry, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Fix and secure memorial stonemasonry.” (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: Fixing and securing a memorial is physical work in the cemetery.
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.
Providing details and finishing to memorial stones
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: details, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Provide details and finishing to memorial stones.” (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: Detailing and finishing a memorial stone is hand craft on the stone.
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.
Guiding nozzles over stone
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: nozzles over stone, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5312/02
Source: “Guide nozzles over stone, following stencil outlines, or chip along marks to create designs or to work surfaces down to specified finishes.” (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: Guiding a blasting nozzle over stone by hand 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.
Shaping, trimming or touch up roughed-out designs with appropriate tools to finish carvings
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: touch up roughed-out designs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5312/02
Source: “Shape, trim, or touch up roughed-out designs with appropriate tools to finish carvings.” (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 and touching up a carving is done with tools in hand.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Cutting or carving mouldings and grooves in stone according to diagrams and patterns
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: mouldings, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5312/02
Source: “Cut or carve mouldings and grooves in stone according to diagrams and patterns.” (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 mouldings and grooves into stone is manual carving.
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.
Drilling holes in marble or ornamental stone
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: holes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Drill holes in marble or ornamental stone.” (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: Drilling holes in stone needs the drill and the stone in the same place.
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 fingers over surfaces of carvings to ensure smoothness of finish
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: fingers over surfaces of carvings, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/02
Source: “Move fingers over surfaces of carvings to ensure smoothness of finish.” (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 fingers over a carving to test smoothness is judged purely by touch.
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 0/4.
Preparing backgrounds to receive masonry on buildings/structures
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: backgrounds, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Prepare backgrounds to receive masonry on buildings/structures.” (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: Preparing the background for masonry is physical work on the building.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Removing or adding stencils during blasting to create varying cut depths
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: stencils, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/02
Source: “Remove or add stencils during blasting to create varying cut depths, intricate designs, or rough finishes.” (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: Adding and stripping stencils during blasting is done by hand at the stone.
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.
Producing or repairing standard architectural enrichments
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: standard architectural enrichments, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 5312/02, 5312/03
Source: “Produce or repair standard architectural enrichments.” (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: Producing or repairing architectural enrichments is hands-on stone craft.
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.
Copying drawings onto rough clay or plaster models
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: drawings, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/02
Source: “Copy drawings onto rough clay or plaster models.” (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: Transferring a drawing onto a clay or plaster model is manual modelling 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.
Dressing stone surfaces using bushhammers
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: stone surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/02
Source: “Dress stone surfaces using bushhammers.” (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: Dressing a stone surface with a bushhammer is physical craft.
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.
Loading sandblasting equipment with abrasives for stone surface preparation
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/02
Source: “Load sandblasting equipment with abrasives for stone 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: Loading abrasive into blasting equipment is a physical task.
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.
Building stone walls using mortar and specialist fixings
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: stone walls, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5312/03
Source: “Build stone walls using mortar and specialist fixings.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Building a stone wall with mortar 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.
Applying and smoothing mortar or other mixture over work surface
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: mortar, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5312/03
Source: “Apply and smooth mortar or other mixture over work surface.” (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: Spreading and smoothing mortar is done by hand with a trowel.
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.
Carving or repairing statues or memorial headstones
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: statues, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5312/03
Source: “Carve or repair statues or memorial headstones.” (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: Carving stone is physical work with tools in your hands.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Cleaning excess mortar or grout from the surface of marble
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: excess mortar, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5312/03
Source: “Clean excess mortar or grout from the surface of marble, stone, or monuments using sponge, brush, water, or acid.” (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: Sponging excess mortar off stone is physical cleaning.
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.
Smoothing the mortar to an attractive finish using a tuck pointer
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the mortar, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5312/03
Source: “Smooth the mortar to an attractive finish using a tuck pointer.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Finishing joints neatly is manual craft.
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 facade surfaces
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: facade surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/03
Source: “Clean facade 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: Cleaning a building facade is physical work on the building.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Laying and aligning bricks, blocks or tiles to construct structures or high temperature equipment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: bricks, blocks or tiles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/03
Source: “Lay and align bricks, blocks, or tiles to construct structures or high temperature equipment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Laying and aligning brick is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Making and fitting ornamental garden pieces from stonework
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: ornamental garden pieces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5312/03
Source: “Make and fit ornamental garden pieces from stonework.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Making and fitting garden stonework is hand craft and installation.
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.
Anchoring brackets in drilled holes
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: brackets, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/03
Source: “Anchor brackets in drilled holes.” (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: Fixing brackets into drilled holes is physical fitting.
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.
Fitting pre-formed cladding
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: pre-formed, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/03
Source: “Fit pre-formed cladding.” (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 pre-formed cladding is physical installation.
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 internal stonework and stone flooring
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: internal stonework, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/03
Source: “Install internal stonework and stone flooring.” (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 internal stonework and stone flooring is hands-on site 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.
Making and fitting window frames from stonework
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: window frames, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/03
Source: “Make and fit window frames from stonework.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Making and fitting stone window frames is craft and installation 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.
Mixing plaster, concrete, mortar, cement, mastic, glue or other adhesives for tiling
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: plaster, concrete, mortar, cement, mastic, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/03
Source: “Mix plaster, concrete, mortar, cement, mastic, glue or other adhesives for tiling.” (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 mortar, cement and adhesives is physical 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.
Removing sections of monument from lorry
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: sections of monument, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/03
Source: “Remove sections of monument from lorry bed.” (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: Unloading monument sections from a lorry 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.
Setting paving stones, aligning and spacing them correctly
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: stones, aligning and spacing them, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5312/03
Source: “Set paving stones, aligning and spacing them correctly.” (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 paving stones to line and spacing is done kneeling on the ground.
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.
Positioning mould along guidelines of wall
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: mould along guidelines of wall, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 55 · 5312/03
Source: “Position mould along guidelines of wall.” (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: Positioning a mould against guidelines on a wall is a physical placement.
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.
Constructing moulds for parts of products and production tools
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: moulds, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 5312/03
Source: “Construct moulds for parts of products and production 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: Building moulds is physical workshop 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.
Exerting pressure on moulds to ensure good adhesion
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: pressure, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 5312/03
Source: “Exert pressure on moulds to ensure good adhesion.” (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: Pressing a mould to make it stick is done by hand.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Inserting paper into moulds to prevent sticking or seepage
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: paper, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 5312/03
Source: “Insert paper into moulds to prevent sticking or seepage.” (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 paper into a mould to stop seepage is a manual step.
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 mould and wallpaper from walls to prepare surfaces for restoration
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: mould, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 5312/03
Source: “Remove mould and wallpaper from walls to prepare surfaces for restoration.” (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 mould and paper off a wall is physical preparation 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: £33,900a 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: 9,900in 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. Almost none of this job is reading one thing and writing another (the shape today's tools are built for), because the work turns on away leftover materials upon project completion, which happens with people and things rather than on a screen. The rows above are the evidence rather than the reassurance: clearing away leftover materials upon project completion and repairing, modifying, maintaining or replacing a variety of masonry types. The parts that are changing are the paperwork and the tools around the job, not the middle of it, 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: clearing away leftover materials upon project completion 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, 0% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 100% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 59 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. The routine end of the work 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 the routine work, 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 away leftover materials upon project completion is in scope or not. Nothing to log into, no licence needed.

Over the next 90 days

Get inside the tool rollout rather than waiting for it. Over the next ninety days, ask to be in the group that tests, checks or signs off whatever new system arrives near clearing away leftover materials upon project completion. 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 stonemasons and related trades (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was bricklayers: only about 10% of its durable work is work you already do. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 5/100 here, with only 0% of the task list in the top band, and “carve rough designs on stone freehand or by chipping along marks using…” 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.

Bricklayers
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 and smooth mortar or other mixture over work surface”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 10% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 10% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Plasterers
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already make and fit ornamental garden pieces from stonework, and their equivalent is to install ornamental plaster pieces, panels, or trim. Across both published task lists that is about 2% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 2% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Elementary construction occupations n.e.c.
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already set out basic masonry on buildings/structures, and their equivalent is to position cast-in-place concrete or masonry structures. Across both published task lists that is about 1% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 1% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step. It is a pay cut, in those words: £28,591 against your £33,938, 15.8% 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: 0% of its task weight, across 59 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 clearing away leftover materials upon project completion 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 Stonemasons 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:

Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers

In US official statistics this job is counted as Stonemasons and Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers. 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 stonemasons / related trades launches. Nothing else.

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No Space for stonemasons / related trades 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 stonemasons / related trades 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 stonemasons / related trades 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 Stonemasons and related trades?: Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 59 official task statements scored for Stonemasons and related trades (United Kingdom, SOC 5312), 0% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 5 out of 100 (range 3–9, 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 “Stonemasons and related trades” can AI already do?: The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Identify and confirm masonry requirements against surveys, job sheets, and specifications in accordance with Building Regulations” (38/100, low); “Interpret the appropriate work plan for the job, considering factors like building age, listed status, and accessibility” (33/100, low); “Select chisels, pneumatic tools, or sandblasting nozzles and determine their use sequence” (25/100, 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 “Stonemasons and related trades” stay human?: About 100% 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: “Remove mould and wallpaper from walls to prepare surfaces for restoration” (0/100, minimal); “Insert paper into moulds to prevent sticking or seepage” (0/100, minimal); “Exert pressure on moulds to ensure good adhesion” (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 “Stonemasons and related trades” do about AI?: Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 0% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 100% 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 Stonemasons and related trades 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 59 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.
18 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

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

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

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

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

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Using these figures?

Cite this

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

Plain text

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

BibTeX

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

Permalink

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

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