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What can helpers for production workers switch to?

The closest match is molders, shapers, and casters, paying about 18% more at the median. 8 jobs in all use similar skills with less of the shift touched by AI or robots.

Time card for molders, shapers, and casters: 6m of an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsTime card: Molders, Shapers, and Casters →

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What can helpers for production workers switch to? AI or robots touch about 2h 55m of a typical 8-hour shift for helpers for production workers, nearly all of it on tasks AI or robots have done on their own somewhere. The jobs below use many of the same skills, and less of their day is touched today. The closest fit is molders, shapers, and casters: 6m touched, with median pay 18% higher.

Matches come from O*NET's ratings of the skills, knowledge and work activities each job uses. "To build up" lists the skills each option rates as clearly more important than helpers for production workers do today. "Touched" is time on tasks with documented AI use or robots working in real workplaces. Treat these as starting points: pay, openings and requirements differ by state.

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HumanWith AIAIRobot
  1. Molders, Shapers, and CastersVery close skills · 6m touched (vs 2h 55m) · $46k · +5.8% by 2035 · high school diploma, some trainingShared skills: Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Operation and ControlNo big skill gaps
  2. Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodVery close skills · 0m touched (vs 2h 55m) · $43k · -1% by 2035 · high school diploma, some trainingShared skills: Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Operation and ControlTo build up: Troubleshooting, Operation and Control
  3. Sewing Machine OperatorsVery close skills · 19m touched (vs 2h 55m) · $37k · -15.1% by 2035 · little or no preparationShared skills: Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Quality Control AnalysisNo big skill gaps
  4. Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningVery close skills · 2h 16m touched (vs 2h 55m) · $75k · -15.8% by 2035 · high school diploma, some trainingShared skills: Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Operation and ControlTo build up: Troubleshooting, Equipment Maintenance, Operation and Control
  5. Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersVery close skills · 29m touched (vs 2h 55m) · $54k · +2.4% by 2035 · high school diploma, some trainingShared skills: Operation and Control, Equipment Selection, Quality Control AnalysisTo build up: Quality Control Analysis
  6. Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticVery close skills · 1h 19m touched (vs 2h 55m) · $46k · -10.5% by 2035 · high school diploma, some trainingShared skills: Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Operation and ControlTo build up: Troubleshooting, Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring
  7. FallersVery close skills · 6m touched (vs 2h 55m) · $52k · -9.9% by 2035 · little or no preparationShared skills: Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Operation and ControlTo build up: Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making, Critical Thinking
  8. Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related MaterialsVery close skills · 40m touched (vs 2h 55m) · $35k · -15.7% by 2035 · little or no preparationShared skills: Equipment Maintenance, Operation and Control, Equipment SelectionNo big skill gaps

Before you switch

See the full time card for helpers for production workers first: many tasks there still need a person, and learning AI tools for the rest can be its own way forward. For pay where you live, open any job above and pick your state.