Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-6041.00
Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.
- 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
0.12–0.17· 3 ISCO-08 groups
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.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 7318Handicraft Workers in Textile, Leather and Related Materials0.13
- ISCO-08 7533Sewing, Embroidery and Related Workers0.12
- ISCO-08 7536Shoemakers and Related Workers0.17
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only27 rated tasks · 4 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (14.8%)
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
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- 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. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Select materials and patterns, and trace patterns onto materials to be cut out.O*NET Task ID 14066 | 0.5 |
Estimate the costs of requested products or services such as custom footwear or footwear repair, and receive payment from customers.O*NET Task ID 14068 | 0.5 |
Check the texture, color, and strength of leather to ensure that it is adequate for a particular purpose.O*NET Task ID 14077 | 0.5 |
Draw patterns, using measurements, designs, plaster casts, or customer specifications, and position or outline patterns on work pieces.O*NET Task ID 14083 | 0.5 |
Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.O*NET Task ID 14062 | 0.0 |
Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.O*NET Task ID 14063 | 0.0 |
Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.O*NET Task ID 14064 | 0.0 |
Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.O*NET Task ID 14065 | 0.0 |
Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, as by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape.O*NET Task ID 14067 | 0.0 |
Attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles.O*NET Task ID 14069 | 0.0 |
Cement, nail, or sew soles and heels to shoes.O*NET Task ID 14070 | 0.0 |
Shape shoe heels with a knife, and sand them on a buffing wheel for smoothness.O*NET Task ID 14071 | 0.0 |
Repair or replace soles, heels, and other parts of footwear, using sewing, buffing and other shoe repair machines, materials, and equipment.O*NET Task ID 14072 | 0.0 |
Make, modify, and repair orthopedic or therapeutic footwear according to doctors' prescriptions, or modify existing footwear for people with foot problems and special needs.O*NET Task ID 14073 | 0.0 |
Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.O*NET Task ID 14074 | 0.0 |
Place shoes on lasts to remove soles and heels, using knives or pliers.O*NET Task ID 14075 | 0.0 |
Clean and polish shoes.O*NET Task ID 14076 | 0.0 |
Read prescriptions or specifications, and take measurements to establish the type of product to be made, using calipers, tape measures, or rules.O*NET Task ID 14078 | 0.0 |
Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 14079 | 0.0 |
Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles.O*NET Task ID 14080 | 0.0 |
Attach accessories or ornamentation to decorate or protect products.O*NET Task ID 14081 | 0.0 |
Cut, insert, position, and secure paddings, cushioning, or linings, using stitches or glue.O*NET Task ID 14082 | 0.0 |
Measure customers for fit, and discuss with them the type of footwear to be made, recommending details such as leather quality.O*NET Task ID 14084 | 0.0 |
Stretch shoes, dampening parts and inserting and twisting parts, using an adjustable stretcher.O*NET Task ID 14085 | 0.0 |
Nail heel and toe cleats onto shoes.O*NET Task ID 14086 | 0.0 |
Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet.O*NET Task ID 14087 | 0.0 |
Re-sew seams, and replace handles and linings of suitcases or handbags.O*NET Task ID 14088 | 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 (26)
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 |
|---|---|
| Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses. | Core |
| Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets. | Core |
| Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts. | Core |
| Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes. | Core |
| Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves. | Core |
| Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools. | Core |
| Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles. | Core |
| Select materials and patterns, and trace patterns onto materials to be cut out. | Supplemental |
| Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, as by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape. | Supplemental |
| Estimate the costs of requested products or services such as custom footwear or footwear repair, and receive payment from customers. | Supplemental |
| Attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles. | Supplemental |
| Cement, nail, or sew soles and heels to shoes. | Supplemental |
| Shape shoe heels with a knife, and sand them on a buffing wheel for smoothness. | Supplemental |
| Repair or replace soles, heels, and other parts of footwear, using sewing, buffing and other shoe repair machines, materials, and equipment. | Supplemental |
| Make, modify, and repair orthopedic or therapeutic footwear according to doctors' prescriptions, or modify existing footwear for people with foot problems and special needs. | Supplemental |
| Place shoes on lasts to remove soles and heels, using knives or pliers. | Supplemental |
| Clean and polish shoes. | Supplemental |
| Check the texture, color, and strength of leather to ensure that it is adequate for a particular purpose. | Supplemental |
| Read prescriptions or specifications, and take measurements to establish the type of product to be made, using calipers, tape measures, or rules. | Supplemental |
| Attach accessories or ornamentation to decorate or protect products. | Supplemental |
| Cut, insert, position, and secure paddings, cushioning, or linings, using stitches or glue. | Supplemental |
| Draw patterns, using measurements, designs, plaster casts, or customer specifications, and position or outline patterns on work pieces. | Supplemental |
| Stretch shoes, dampening parts and inserting and twisting parts, using an adjustable stretcher. | Supplemental |
| Nail heel and toe cleats onto shoes. | Supplemental |
| Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet. | Supplemental |
| Re-sew seams, and replace handles and linings of suitcases or handbags. | Supplemental |
0.30/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets. | E0 none |
| Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes. | E0 none |
| Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves. | E0 none |
| Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools. | E0 none |
| Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Select materials and patterns, and trace patterns onto materials to be cut out. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, as by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles. | E0 none |
| Cement, nail, or sew soles and heels to shoes. | E0 none |
| Shape shoe heels with a knife, and sand them on a buffing wheel for smoothness. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Repair or replace soles, heels, and other parts of footwear, using sewing, buffing and other shoe repair machines, materials, and equipment. | E0 none |
| Make, modify, and repair orthopedic or therapeutic footwear according to doctors' prescriptions, or modify existing footwear for people with foot problems and special needs. | E0 none |
| Place shoes on lasts to remove soles and heels, using knives or pliers. | E0 none |
| Clean and polish shoes. | E0 none |
| Check the texture, color, and strength of leather to ensure that it is adequate for a particular purpose. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Read prescriptions or specifications, and take measurements to establish the type of product to be made, using calipers, tape measures, or rules. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Attach accessories or ornamentation to decorate or protect products. | E0 none |
| Cut, insert, position, and secure paddings, cushioning, or linings, using stitches or glue. | E0 none |
| Draw patterns, using measurements, designs, plaster casts, or customer specifications, and position or outline patterns on work pieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Stretch shoes, dampening parts and inserting and twisting parts, using an adjustable stretcher. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Nail heel and toe cleats onto shoes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Re-sew seams, and replace handles and linings of suitcases or handbags. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 10K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 10K
- Change (2025–35)
- -6.5%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $37,800
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72122 | 신발 및 구두 재단사 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 72140 | 제화원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 72243 | 구두 수선원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 72249 | 그 외 수선원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 72119 | 그 외 패턴사 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 72132 | 가죽 및 모피 재봉사 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 72230 | 모피 및 가죽 의복 제조원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 72242 | 가죽 및 모피 수선원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 99910 | 구두 미화원 | Related, not a match | 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 7318Handicraft Workers in Textile, Leather and Related Materials
- ISCO-08 7533Sewing, Embroidery and Related Workers
- ISCO-08 7536Shoemakers and Related Workers
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.
- bespoke footwear technicianESCO 7536.2.1This occupation is broader
Bespoke footwear technicians perform activities in small production environments (e.g. workshops) where footwear is typically custom-made. They design, prepare, cut and sew, assemble and finish custom made footwear.
- footwear hand sewerESCO 7536.2.3This occupation is broader
Footwear hand sewers join the cut pieces of leather and other materials using simple tools, such as needles, pliers and scissors to produce the uppers. Also, they perform hand stitches for decorative purposes or for assembling the uppers to soles in case of complete footwear.
- hand lasting operatorESCO 7536.2.5This occupation is broader
Hand lasting operators shape and secure linings and uppers over the last by hand. Hand lasting operators pull the forepart, the waist and the seat of the upper over the last using handtools with the aim of obtaining the final shape of the footwear model. They start by pulling the front part edges of the upper over the last, and pressing the waist and the seat. They then flatten the wiped edges and cut excess box toe and lining, and use stitching or cementing to fix the shape.
- leather goods artisanal workerESCO 7318.5This occupation is broader
Leather goods artisanal workers manufacture leather goods or parts of leather goods by hand according to the specifications of the customer or their own design. They do repairs of leather goods such as shoes, bags and gloves.
- leather goods hand stitcherESCO 7536.1.3This occupation is broader
Leather goods hand stitchers join the cut pieces of leather and other materials using simple tools such as needles, pliers and scissors to close the product. They also perform hand stitches for decorative purposes.
- leather goods machine operatorESCO 8156.3This occupation is broader
Leather goods machine operators tend specific machines in the industrial production of leather goods products. They operate machinery for cutting, closing, and finishing luggage, handbags, saddlery and harness products. They also perform routine maintenance of the machinery.
- leather goods manual operatorESCO 7536.1This occupation is broader
Leather goods manual operators handle tools to prepare the joint of the pieces in order to ready the pieces to be stitched or to close the already existing pieces stitched together in order to give shape to the leather good products.
- leather goods manufacturing technicianESCO 3119.9This occupation is broader
Leather goods manufacturing technicians perform a wide range of activities and tasks related to the leather goods manufacturing process including cutting, closing and finishing, according to pre-defined quality criteria, resulted from the direct relationship with the costumer. They use manual techniques supported by simple traditional equipment to produce exclusive models or very small orders.
- pre-lasting operatorESCO 8156.2.5This occupation is broader
Pre-lasting operators handle tools and equipment for placing stiffeners, moulding toe puff and other actions necessary for lasting the uppers of the footwear over the last. They make preparations for lasting-cemented construction by attaching the insole, inserting the stiffener, back moulding and conditioning the uppers before lasting.
- shoe repairerESCO 7536.2.7This occupation is broader
Shoe repairers repair and renew deteriorated footwear and other items like belts or bags. They use hand tools and specialised machinery to add soles and heels, replace worn-out buckles and clean and polish shoes.
- shoemakerESCO 7536.2This occupation is broader
Shoemakers use hand or machine operations for traditional manufacturing of a various range of footwear. They also repair all types of footwear in a repair shop.
- footwear stitching machine operatorESCO 8156.2.3Overlapping, not the same
Footwear stitching machine operators join the cut pieces of leather and other materials to produce the uppers. They use several tools and a wide range of machines such as flat bed, arm and one or two columns. They select threads and needles for the stitching machines, place pieces in the working area, and operate with the machine guiding parts under the needle. They follow seams, edges, markings or moving edges of parts against the guide. Finally, they cut excess thread or material from shoe parts using scissors or dyes.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| H2411 | Monteur / Monteuse prototypiste cuir et matériaux souples | This occupation is broader |
| H2416 | Gainier industriel / Gainière industrielle | This occupation is broader |
| B1802 | Maroquinier / Maroquinière | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| B1809 | Sellier / Sellière | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1206 | Cordonnier / Cordonnière | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H2407 | Opérateur / Opératrice sur machine de transformation et de finition des cuirs et peaux | Related, 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 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7837 | Zapateros y afines | Same scopeprovisional |
| 7618 | Artesanos en tejidos, cueros y materiales similares, preparadores de fibra y tejedores con telares artesanos o de tejidos de punto y afines | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 7836 | Curtidores y preparadores de pieles | Related, 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 code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 28322 | Berufe in der Sattlerei und Herstellung von Lederutensilien - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 28332 | Berufe in der Schuhherstellung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 28301 | Berufe in der Leder-, Pelzherstellung und -verarbeitung (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 28312 | Berufe in der Lederherstellung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 28333 | Berufe in der Schuhherstellung - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 28342 | Berufe in der Pelzbe- und -verarbeitung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 539 | その他の製品製造・加工処理従事者（金属製品を除く） | 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