Share and intensity of work current AI systems can materially affect.
SOC 47-2042
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles AI displacement risk
Floor layers install resilient sheet and tile flooring over prepared subfloors. Measurement and layout software calculate cuts, but subfloor correction, cutting around the obstacles every real room contains, and forming tight seams stay hands-on.
Likely potential for exposed tasks to move to software after workflow integration.
Commercial renovation drives demand: healthcare and education buildings run on resilient flooring. The trade's skill is surface preparation — the invisible half of the job that determines whether the floor lasts.
Distribution
Where Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles sits across 620 tracked roles
Displacement pressure 14 — higher than 8% of the 620 occupations tracked on displacement.ai.
Score version
This page uses Seed model v0.4 (seed-v0.4-2026-05), last reviewed 2026-08-15. Directional occupation-level planning model using hand-reviewed public research, task exposure estimates, wage context, and transition-pathway assumptions.
14 O*NET task statements matched to SOC 47-2042. The displayed task profile combines these official task statements with the current public score model.
Median wage context: $56,460 (May 2025, US national). The latest BLS row matched SOC 47-2042.
Scores are planning signals, not forecasts. Local hiring demand, employer-specific workflows, licensing, and credentials must be validated before making career decisions.
2030 economic stress test
How Anthropic's scenarios classify Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
SOC 47-2042 places this role in the paper's all-other occupation group. These group-level outcomes do not change the 14/100 role score and are not an occupation forecast.
+1.1% group wage
Employment rises and unemployment falls for the all-other group, but the paper does not publish a separate group rate.
Economy-wide: +1.6% GDP and 3.9% unemployment.
+5.9% group wage
Employment rises and unemployment falls for the all-other group, but the paper does not publish a separate group rate.
Economy-wide: +8.3% GDP and 4.6% unemployment.
+33.6% group wage
Employment rises and unemployment falls for the all-other group, but the paper does not publish a separate group rate.
Economy-wide: +32.4% GDP and 11.9% unemployment.
Compare the assumptions and limitations across all three scenarios. Source: The Anthropic Institute Working Paper No. 2026-02.
Official task evidence
O*NET task matches for Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
The current evidence import matched 14 task statements from Task Statements 31.0 (August 2026). These rows are used as a grounding layer for judging which parts of the occupation are repeatable, language-heavy, analytical, social, physical, or compliance-sensitive.
Dataset31.0 (August 2026)
Matched tasks14
SOC47-2042
- Core task / ID 8259
Cut covering and foundation materials, according to blueprints and sketches.
- Core task / ID 8256
Trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form tight joint.
- Core task / ID 8254
Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions.
- Core task / ID 8260
Roll and press sheet wall and floor covering into cement base to smooth and finish surface, using hand roller.
- Core task / ID 8263
Lay out, position, and apply shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors, walls, and cabinets, following guidelines to keep courses straight and create designs.
- Core task / ID 8253
Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.
Source: O*NET Resource Center, Task Statements. Raw import target: data/raw/onet/task-statements-31-0.txt.
Task profile
Where AI changes the work
Sweep, scrape, and correct base surface imperfections
Exposure 16, automation 6%, augmentation 32%.
O*NET evidence: Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting... (ID 8253)
Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions
Exposure 18, automation 7%, augmentation 36%.
O*NET evidence: Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions. (ID 8254)
Inspect surfaces to ensure they are firm and dry
Exposure 28, automation 12%, augmentation 44%.
O*NET evidence: Inspect surface to be covered to ensure that it is firm and dry. (ID 8255)
Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces
Exposure 30, automation 13%, augmentation 44%.
O*NET evidence: Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces or foundations, using chalk lines and dividers. (ID 8258)
TaskExposureAutomationAugmentation
Sweep, scrape, and correct base surface imperfections166%32%
Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions187%36%
Inspect surfaces to ensure they are firm and dry2812%44%
Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces3013%44%
Transition pathways
Adjacent moves that preserve existing skills
credentialed transition
LowFlooring Contractor
Training horizon: 12-24 months. Skill overlap 64. Wage preservation signal 132.
- Earn contractor licensing
- Bid commercial projects
- Build an install crew
role redesign
LowFlooring Estimator
Training horizon: 3-6 months. Skill overlap 62. Wage preservation signal 114.
- Master takeoff software
- Quote commercial jobs
- Coordinate install schedules
Comparison guides
Compare the next move before you commit
12-24 months
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles to Flooring Contractor
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles into Flooring Contractor.
3-6 months
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles to Flooring Estimator
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles into Flooring Estimator.
What the AI risk score means for Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
The displacement pressure score for Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles is 14. That score blends task exposure, automation pressure, augmentation potential, wage vulnerability, transition feasibility, and source confidence. It is designed to help workers and workforce teams decide where to act first, not to claim a specific date when a job will disappear.
For this role, the clearest risk pattern is visible at the task level. Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces carries 13% automation pressure, while Inspect surfaces to ensure they are firm and dry carries 44% augmentation potential. That means the best response is usually a targeted redesign of work: move away from repeatable production tasks and toward judgment, exception handling, coordination, stakeholder context, and accountable use of AI tools.
Labor-market context and wage risk
Median wage: $56,460 (May 2025, US national). Employment context: Resilient-flooring trade in irregular real rooms. Typical education: High school plus on-the-job training or apprenticeship.
Wage vulnerability is 42, while transition feasibility is 58. A high wage-vulnerability score means workers should pay close attention to salary preservation before making a move. A high transition-feasibility score means there are adjacent paths that can reuse existing skills without requiring a complete career reset.
- Low displacement pressure
- Software calculates cuts, layers fit rooms
- Commercial renovation drives demand
Upskilling priorities
Skills that make this role more resilient
The safest upskilling plan starts with skills already close to the work. For Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles, the strongest near-term skill priorities are listed below. These are useful whether the goal is to stay in the role, move to a redesigned version of the role, or transition into an adjacent occupation.
Subfloor preparation technique
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Precision cutting
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Layout measurement
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Seam technique
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
90-day transition plan
The most practical next step is not to wait for a layoff or a full role redesign. Use the next 90 days to create evidence that you can operate in a safer, more AI-augmented version of the work.
- In the first 30 days, document the repetitive tasks in your current work and identify where AI can reduce drafting, lookup, classification, or reporting time.
- By 60 days, complete one small project connected to Flooring Contractor, such as earn contractor licensing.
- By 90 days, compare internal openings and external postings for Flooring Contractor or Flooring Estimator and update your resume around measurable workflow outcomes.
FAQ
Questions about AI and Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
Will AI replace Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles?
Floor layers install resilient sheet and tile flooring over prepared subfloors. Measurement and layout software calculate cuts, but subfloor correction, cutting around the obstacles every real room contains, and forming tight seams stay hands-on. The better planning signal is not full replacement, but which tasks become automated, which tasks become AI-assisted, and which responsibilities still need human judgment.
Which parts of Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles work are most exposed to AI?
Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces and Inspect surfaces to ensure they are firm and dry show the strongest automation pressure in this model. Inspect surfaces to ensure they are firm and dry and Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces are better treated as AI-augmented work.
What should Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles learn next?
Start with Subfloor preparation technique, Precision cutting, Layout measurement. The most practical adjacent paths in this model are Flooring Contractor and Flooring Estimator.
How should this score be used?
Use it as a planning signal, not a prediction. Confirm local hiring demand, wages, licensing, credentials, and employer adoption before making a career move.
Sources
Evidence trail
OECD / 11 July 2023OECD Employment Outlook 2023: Artificial Intelligence and the Labour MarketO*NET Resource Center / Database 31.0 (August 2026)Occupation, Task, Skill, and Work-Activity DataUS Bureau of Labor Statistics / May 2025 estimates (released 15 May 2026)Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics