O*NET-SOC code
19-2041.03

Apply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems. Use knowledge from the physical and social sciences to maximize effective use of natural resources in the production and use of goods and services. Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.

  • Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08

    Very high· relative

    LowFour relative bandsVery high

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)

    831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band

    Source dataset (XLSX download)

  • Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03

    0.055

    0.000Range of values carried here0.745

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published

    Mapped onto O*NET tasks

    Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value

    Source dataset (CSV download)

  • Data source: ILOPublished: 2025

    0.38

    0.09Range of values carried here0.70

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published

    Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published

    Source dataset (PDF download)

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

Exposed tasks only

38 rated tasks · 38 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (100.0%)

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

  • Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
  • All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
Source
OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
Release
gh-main-0471612
License
MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Task (O*NET 20.1)Claude.aiRaw / share %
Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.

19-2041.03

0.084479.1
Analyze changes designed to improve the environmental performance of complex systems to avoid unintended negative consequences.

19-2041.03

0.019918.7
Review research literature to maintain knowledge on topics related to industrial ecology, such as physical science, technology, economy, and public policy.

19-2041.03

0.00232.2
Not observed on any surface — 35 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states.
Investigate accidents affecting the environment to assess ecological impact.
—0
Review industrial practices, such as the methods and materials used in construction or production, to identify potential liabilities and environmental hazards.
—0
Research sources of pollution to determine environmental impact or to develop methods of pollution abatement or control.
—0
Provide industrial managers with technical materials on environmental issues, regulatory guidelines, or compliance actions.
—0
Plan or conduct studies of the ecological implications of historic or projected changes in industrial processes or development.
—0
Plan or conduct field research on topics such as industrial production, industrial ecology, population ecology, and environmental production or sustainability.
—0
Monitor the environmental impact of development activities, pollution, or land degradation.
—0
Identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes.
—0
Investigate the impact of changed land management or land use practices on ecosystems.
—0
Create complex and dynamic mathematical models of population, community, or ecological systems.
—0
Carry out environmental assessments in accordance with applicable standards, regulations, or laws.
—0
Build and maintain databases of information about energy alternatives, pollutants, natural environments, industrial processes, and other information related to ecological change.
—0
Forecast future status or condition of ecosystems, based on changing industrial practices or environmental conditions.
—0
Recommend methods to protect the environment or minimize environmental damage from industrial production practices.
—0
Develop alternative energy investment scenarios to compare economic and environmental costs and benefits.
—0
Apply new or existing research about natural ecosystems to understand economic and industrial systems in the context of the environment.
—0
Conduct environmental sustainability assessments, using material flow analysis (MFA) or substance flow analysis (SFA) techniques.
—0
Examine local, regional or global use and flow of materials or energy in industrial production processes.
—0
Identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects.
—0
Identify or compare the component parts or relationships between the parts of industrial, social, and natural systems.
—0
Identify sustainable alternatives to industrial or waste management practices.
—0
Perform analyses to determine how human behavior can affect and be affected by changes in the environment.
—0
Perform environmentally extended input-output (EE I-O) analyses.
—0
Prepare plans to manage renewable resources.
—0
Prepare technical and research reports such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
—0
Promote use of environmental management systems (EMS) to reduce waste or to improve environmentally sound use of natural resources.
—0
Redesign linear, or open loop, systems into cyclical, or closed loop, systems so that waste products become inputs for new processes, modeling natural ecosystems.
—0
Research environmental effects of land and water used to determine methods of improving environmental conditions or increasing outputs such as crop yields.
—0
Translate the theories of industrial ecology into eco-industrial practices.
—0
Investigate the adaptability of various animal and plant species to changed environmental conditions.
—0
Develop or test protocols to monitor ecosystem components and ecological processes.
—0
Conduct scientific protection, mitigation, or restoration projects to prevent resource damage, maintain the integrity of critical habitats, and minimize the impact of human activities.
—0
Conduct applied research on the effects of industrial processes on the protection, restoration, inventory, monitoring, or reintroduction of species to the natural environment.
—0
Conduct analyses to determine the maximum amount of work that can be accomplished for a given amount of energy in a system, such as industrial production systems and waste treatment systems.
—0
Evaluate the effectiveness of industrial ecology programs using statistical analysis and applications.
—0

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

All O*NET 31.0 task statements (38)

All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.

Task (O*NET 31.0)Type
Review industrial practices, such as the methods and materials used in construction or production, to identify potential liabilities and environmental hazards.Core
Research sources of pollution to determine environmental impact or to develop methods of pollution abatement or control.Core
Plan or conduct studies of the ecological implications of historic or projected changes in industrial processes or development.Core
Plan or conduct field research on topics such as industrial production, industrial ecology, population ecology, and environmental production or sustainability.Core
Monitor the environmental impact of development activities, pollution, or land degradation.Core
Identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes.Core
Investigate the impact of changed land management or land use practices on ecosystems.Core
Create complex and dynamic mathematical models of population, community, or ecological systems.Core
Carry out environmental assessments in accordance with applicable standards, regulations, or laws.Core
Build and maintain databases of information about energy alternatives, pollutants, natural environments, industrial processes, and other information related to ecological change.Core
Forecast future status or condition of ecosystems, based on changing industrial practices or environmental conditions.Core
Recommend methods to protect the environment or minimize environmental damage from industrial production practices.Core
Develop alternative energy investment scenarios to compare economic and environmental costs and benefits.Core
Analyze changes designed to improve the environmental performance of complex systems and avoid unintended negative consequences.Core
Apply new or existing research about natural ecosystems to understand economic and industrial systems in the context of the environment.Core
Conduct environmental sustainability assessments, using material flow analysis (MFA) or substance flow analysis (SFA) techniques.Core
Evaluate the effectiveness of industrial ecology programs, using statistical analysis and applications.Core
Examine local, regional, or global use and flow of materials or energy in industrial production processes.Core
Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.Core
Identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects.Core
Identify or compare the component parts or relationships between the parts of industrial, social, and natural systems.Core
Identify sustainable alternatives to industrial or waste-management practices.Core
Perform analyses to determine how human behavior can affect, and be affected by, changes in the environment.Core
Perform environmentally extended input-output (EE I-O) analyses.Core
Prepare plans to manage renewable resources.Core
Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.Core
Promote use of environmental management systems (EMS) to reduce waste or to improve environmentally sound use of natural resources.Core
Redesign linear, or open-loop, systems into cyclical, or closed-loop, systems so that waste products become inputs for new processes, modeling natural ecosystems.Core
Review research literature to maintain knowledge on topics related to industrial ecology, such as physical science, technology, economy, and public policy.Core
Translate the theories of industrial ecology into eco-industrial practices.Core
Investigate accidents affecting the environment to assess ecological impact.Supplemental
Investigate the adaptability of various animal and plant species to changed environmental conditions.Supplemental
Provide industrial managers with technical materials on environmental issues, regulatory guidelines, or compliance actions.Supplemental
Develop or test protocols to monitor ecosystem components and ecological processes.Supplemental
Conduct scientific protection, mitigation, or restoration projects to prevent resource damage, maintain the integrity of critical habitats, and minimize the impact of human activities.Supplemental
Conduct applied research on the effects of industrial processes on the protection, restoration, inventory, monitoring, or reintroduction of species to the natural environment.Supplemental
Conduct analyses to determine the maximum amount of work that can be accomplished for a given amount of energy in a system, such as industrial production systems and waste treatment systems.Supplemental
Research environmental effects of land and water use to determine methods of improving environmental conditions or increasing outputs, such as crop yields.Supplemental

Occupation information

Employment outlook (BLS)

Values for the whole SOC 19-2041 group (Environmental scientists and specialists, including health), not for this O*NET occupation alone.

Employment, 2025
93K
Projected employment, 2035
99K
Change (2025–35)
+6.1%
Median annual wage, 2025
$82,220
Typical education needed for entry
Bachelor's degree
lowest $30,890median wage across 825 detailed occupations, BLS EP 2025–35highest $559,030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

Korea classification links (KSCO)

Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.

KSCO codeKSCO titleRelationStatus
23719그 외 환경공학 기술자 및 연구원Related, not a matchconfirmed

Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)

ILO occupational description

AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.

  • ISCO-08 2133Environmental Protection Professionals

The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.

Environmental protection professionals study and assess the effects on the environment of human activity such as air, water and noise pollution, soil contamination, climate change, toxic waste and depletion and degradation of natural resources. They develop plans and solutions to protect, conserve, restore, minimize and prevent further damage to the environment.

Tasks

  • (a) conducting research, performing tests, collecting samples, performing field and laboratory analysis to identify sources of environmental problems and recommending ways to prevent, control and remediate the impact of environmental problems;
  • (b) assessing the likely impact that potential or proposed activities, projects and developments may have on the environment, and recommending whether such developments should proceed;
  • (c) developing and coordinating the implementation of environmental management systems to enable organizations to identify, monitor and control the impact of their activities, products and services on the environment;
  • (d) conducting audits to evaluate environmental impact of existing activities, processes, wastes, noises and substances;
  • (e) assessing an organization's compliance with government and internal environmental regulations and guidelines, identifying violations and determining appropriate remedial action;
  • (f) providing technical advice and support services to organizations on how best to deal with environmental problems in order to reduce environmental damage and minimize financial loss;
  • (g) developing conservation plans.

Example occupations

Air pollution analyst · Conservation officer · Conservation scientist · Ecologist · Environmental adviser · Environmental auditor · Environmental consultant · Environmental research scientist · Environmental scientist · Park ranger · Water quality analyst

Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits

ESCO occupational vocabulary

Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.

  • ecologistESCO 2133.5This occupation is narrower

    Ecologists carry out assessments of the health and distribution of organisms, namely people, plants, and animals, and the relationship between organisms and their environment. Ecologists usually have a specialisation area, e.g. freshwater, marine, terrestrial, fauna, and flora about which they conduct research and perform relating tasks.

  • environmental engineerESCO 2143.1Overlapping, not the same

    Environmental engineers integrate environmental and sustainable measures in the development of projects of various natures. They seek to preserve natural resources and natural sites. They work together with engineers from other fields to envision all the implications that projects might have in order to design ways to conserve natural reserves, prevent pollution, and deploy sanitary measures.

  • environmental expertESCO 2143.2Overlapping, not the same

    Environmental experts search for technological solutions to tackle environmental problems. They detect and analyse environmental issues and develop new technological production processes to counter these problematic issues. They research the effect of their technological innovations and present their findings in scientific reports.

  • environmental scientistESCO 2133.7Overlapping, not the same

    Environmental scientists identify problems and find solutions in order to minimize environmental hazards by performing analysis on samples such as air, water or soil. They advise on or develop environmental policies and aim to improve water supplies preservation and manage waste disposal sites. Environmental scientists perform environmental risk assessments and analyse the environmental impact of new solutions, construction sites or environmental changes ensuring the environmental regulations are followed.

Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)

License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)

View original

ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.

France classification links (ROME)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.

ROME codeROME title (French)Relation
A1313Chargé / Chargée de mission environnementRelated, not a match
H1206Ingénieur / Ingénieure R&D en industrieRelated, not a match
H1239Technicien / Technicienne bureau d'études écoconceptionRelated, not a match
M1896Analyste cycle de vie dans les télécomsRelated, not a match

Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.

ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)

Spain classification links (CNO-11)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

CNO-11 codeCNO-11 title (Spanish)Relation
2426Profesionales de la protección ambientalThis occupation is narrowerprovisional
2437Ingenieros ambientalesRelated, not a matchprovisional

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)

Germany classification links (KldB)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

KldB codeKldB title (German)Relation
42314Berufe in der Umweltschutzverwaltung und -beratung - hoch komplexe TätigkeitenThis occupation is narrower
42204Berufe in der Umweltschutztechnik (ohne Spezialisierung) - hoch komplexe TätigkeitenRelated, not a match

Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)

Japan classification links (JSCO)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

JSCO codeJSCO title (Japanese)Relation
051自然科学系研究者This occupation is narrowerprovisional
119その他の技術者Related, not a matchprovisional

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)

Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources