Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-4071.00
Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-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
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, 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
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.13
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-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
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
13 rated tasks · 0 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (0.0%)
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
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.O*NET Task ID 12050 | 0.0 |
Move and position workpieces, such as mold sections, patterns, and bottom boards, using cranes, or signal others to move workpieces.O*NET Task ID 12051 | 0.0 |
Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.O*NET Task ID 12052 | 0.0 |
Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.O*NET Task ID 12053 | 0.0 |
Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.O*NET Task ID 12054 | 0.0 |
Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.O*NET Task ID 12055 | 0.0 |
Tend machines that bond cope and drag together to form completed shell molds.O*NET Task ID 12056 | 0.0 |
Cut spouts, runner holes, and sprue holes into molds.O*NET Task ID 12057 | 0.0 |
Lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns.O*NET Task ID 12058 | 0.0 |
Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.O*NET Task ID 12059 | 0.0 |
Pour molten metal into molds, manually or with crane ladles.O*NET Task ID 12060 | 0.0 |
Rotate sweep boards around spindles to make symmetrical molds for convex impressions.O*NET Task ID 12061 | 0.0 |
Operate ovens or furnaces to bake cores or to melt, skim, and flux metal.O*NET Task ID 12062 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (13)
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 |
|---|---|
| Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections. | Core |
| Move and position workpieces, such as mold sections, patterns, and bottom boards, using cranes, or signal others to move workpieces. | Core |
| Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds. | Core |
| Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together. | Core |
| Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring. | Core |
| Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools. | Core |
| Cut spouts, runner holes, and sprue holes into molds. | Core |
| Lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns. | Core |
| Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue. | Core |
| Tend machines that bond cope and drag together to form completed shell molds. | Supplemental |
| Pour molten metal into molds, manually or with crane ladles. | Supplemental |
| Rotate sweep boards around spindles to make symmetrical molds for convex impressions. | Supplemental |
| Operate ovens or furnaces to bake cores or to melt, skim, and flux metal. | Supplemental |
1.00/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Move and position workpieces, such as mold sections, patterns, and bottom boards, using cranes, or signal others to move workpieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Cut spouts, runner holes, and sprue holes into molds. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Tend machines that bond cope and drag together to form completed shell molds. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Pour molten metal into molds, manually or with crane ladles. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Rotate sweep boards around spindles to make symmetrical molds for convex impressions. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate ovens or furnaces to bake cores or to melt, skim, and flux metal. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 13K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 10K
- Change (2025–35)
- -23%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $48,110
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
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 code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 74022 | 주형원 | Same scope | confirmed |
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 7211Metal Moulders and Coremakers
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.
- foundry moulderESCO 7211.1.2Same scope
Foundry moulders manufacture cores for metal moulds, which are used to fill a space in the mould that must remain unfilled during casting. They use wood, plastic or other materials to create the core, selected to withstand the extreme environment of a metal mould.
- moulding machine operatorESCO 7223.13This occupation is broader
Moulding machine operators operate machines that are part of the production process of moulds for the manufacturing of castings or other moulded materials. They tend the mouldmaking machines that use the appropriate materials such as sand, plastics, or ceramics to obtain the moulding material. They may then use a pattern and one or more cores to produce the right shape impression in this material. The shaped material is then left to set, later to be used as a mould in the production of moulded products such as ferrous and non-ferrous metal castings.
- casting mould makerESCO 7222.1Overlapping, not the same
Casting mould makers create metal, wooden or plastic models of the finished product to be cast. The patterns are then used to create moulds, eventually leading to the casting of the product of the same shape as the pattern.
- coquille casting workerESCO 7211.1.1Overlapping, not the same
Coquille casting workers manufacture castings, including pipes, tubes, hollow profiles and other products of the first processing of steel, by operating hand-controlled equipment in a foundry. They conduct the flow of molten ferrous and non-ferrous metals into coquilles, taking care to create the exact right circumstances to obtain the highest quality metal. They observe the flow of metal to identify faults. In case of a fault, they notify the authorised personnel and participate in the removal of the fault.
- foundry operativeESCO 7211.1Overlapping, not the same
Foundry operative manufacture castings, including pipes, tubes, hollow profiles and other products of the first processing of steel, by operating hand-controlled equipment in a foundry. They conduct the flow of molten ferrous and non-ferrous metals into moulds, taking care to create the exact right circumstances to obtain the highest quality metal. They observe the flow of metal to identify faults. In case of a fault, they notify the authorised personnel and participate in the removal of the fault.
- mouldmakerESCO 7211.1.3Overlapping, not the same
Mouldmakers manually create moulds for the production of metal products. They mix sand and hardening materials to obtain a specialised mixture. They then use a pattern and one or more cores to produce the right shape impression in this material. The shaped material is then left to set, later to be used as a mould in the production of ferrous and non-ferrous metal castings.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
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 code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H2910 | Mouleur noyauteur / Mouleuse noyauteuse machine | Same scopeprovisional |
| H2907 | Fondeur / Fondeuse en métallurgie | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7311 | Moldeadores y macheros | Same scopeprovisional |
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 code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 24142 | Berufe in der handwerklichen Metall- und Glockengießerei - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 24132 | Berufe in der industriellen Gießerei - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 24133 | Berufe in der industriellen Gießerei - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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 code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 522 | 鋳物製造・鍛造従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
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