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Tapers

Construction, Maintenance & Repair
Projected change 2024–34: +0.1%
Median annual wage (2024): $64,700
Employment (2024): 16K

United States · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 (figures for SOC 47-2082 occupational group)

AI exposure in published research

Figures below are reproduced from external datasets without modification. Where a dataset does not cover this occupation, the value is shown as — rather than as zero.

Data provider: OpenAI · "GPTs are GPTs"

Time basis: 2023 baselineex-ante estimate

Scored against GPT-4-generation capability.

Human rater basis
0.0%
GPT-4 rater basis
0.0%

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

16 rated tasks · 0 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (0.0%)

Version:
gh-main-0471612
License:
MIT License · Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI

Data provider: Anthropic Economic Index

Time basis: Published 2026-03-05composite index

Observed exposure
0.0%

Theoretical exposure index weighted by measured Claude usage, per the original report's definition.

15 tasks · usage observed in 0 · mean 0.0%

Data: Anthropic Economic Index — labor_market_impacts, CC-BY, https://huggingface.co/datasets/Anthropic/EconomicIndex

AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.

Version:
hf-lmi-2026-03
License:
CC BY 4.0
Observation period:
(not applicable to this release)
Model:
(not stated by the source)

2023 prediction vs observation-based index published 2026-03-05

One card (GPTs are GPTs) is a 2023 estimate of what AI could theoretically do; the other (Anthropic Economic Index) is built from observed usage and was published on 2026-03-05 — that is its publication date, not the period it observed. They measure different things, so the two figures cannot be added, averaged, or ranked against each other. The older figure is kept here as a baseline for comparison rather than removed.

Caution: the Anthropic figures — observed exposure and task penetration — take the Eloundou β as one of their inputs. The two sides resembling each other is therefore not evidence that the earlier prediction came true; reading it that way is circular reasoning.

The Anthropic figures are measured on Claude users, who are not the whole economy and not the whole workforce.

The mapping of O*NET tasks and occupation codes was performed by AI Changing Work. The source figures themselves were not modified.

These indices are not forecasts. Which point in time each one belongs to is stated on the badge on its card.

Task Breakdown

  • Apply joint compound and tape to drywall seams
  • Sand dried compound to achieve smooth finish
  • Estimate material quantities and project timelines

About This Occupation

If you work as a Taper, AI has very low impact on your daily work. With an automation risk of 6/100 and overall exposure at 14%, this highly manual trade remains largely unaffected by AI. Material estimation sees the highest automation at 42%, while hands-on taping and finishing remain almost entirely manual. BLS projects +1% growth through 2034.

ISCO-08 classification

Unit group 7123ILO official

Plasterers

Definition

ILO original text (English)

Plasterers install, maintain and repair plasterboard in buildings, and apply decorative and protective coverings of plaster, cement and similar material to the interiors and exteriors of structures.

Definition & vocabulary source

Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) — ISCO-08 Structure

License: ILO CC BY 4.0

View original

Official occupational information

  • ONET47-2081.00

    Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

    Apply plasterboard or other wallboard to ceilings or interior walls of buildings. Apply or mount acoustical tiles or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings and walls of buildings to reduce or reflect sound. Materials may be of decorative quality. Includes lathers who fasten wooden, metal, or rockboard lath to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings to provide support base for plaster, fireproofing, or acoustical material.

    View original
  • ONET47-2082.00

    Tapers

    Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.

    View original
  • ONET47-2161.00

    Plasterers and Stucco Masons

    Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.

    View original

Source: O*NET 30.2, U.S. DOL/ETA

License: CC BY 4.0

View original

Frequently Asked Questions

The Anthropic Economic Index puts observed exposure at 0.0%. The OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" rubric puts occupation-level β at 0.0% under human raters. Both figures are reproduced from published research without modification.

They come from two published datasets: the Anthropic Economic Index (labor_market_impacts, CC BY 4.0) and the OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric (MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI). AI Changing Work maps them onto O*NET occupation and task codes and does not calculate exposure scores of its own. AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.

No. They are a diagnosis of exposure as measured at the time each source dataset was published. AI Changing Work publishes no prediction of future automation or job displacement for this occupation.