Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
United States · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 (figures for SOC 51-4121 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"
- Human rater basis
- 3.9%
- GPT-4 rater basis
- 8.8%
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
30 rated tasks · 3 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (10.0%)
- Version:
- gh-main-0471612
- License:
- MIT License · Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Data provider: Anthropic Economic Index
- Observed exposure
- 0.0%
Theoretical exposure index weighted by measured Claude usage, per the original report's definition.
29 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
The mapping of O*NET tasks and occupation codes was performed by AI Changing Work. The source figures themselves were not modified.
These indices describe exposure measured at the present time. They are not a forecast.
Task Breakdown
- Interpret welding blueprints
- Perform manual welding operations
- Inspect welds for quality
- Maintain welding equipment
About This Occupation
If you work as a Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, AI is reshaping your profession. With an automation risk of 11/100 and overall exposure at 15%, this role faces low transformation. The highest-impact area is inspect welds for quality at 45% automation. This is classified as an 'augment' role. BLS projects +1% growth through 2034. Robotic welding is growing in manufacturing, but skilled manual welders remain in high demand for custom and field work.
ISCO-08 classification
Welders and Flame Cutters
Definition
ILO original text (English)
Welders and flame cutters weld and cut metal parts using gas flame, electric arc and other sources of heat to melt and cut, or to melt and fuse metal.
Definition & vocabulary source
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) — ISCO-08 Structure
License: ILO CC BY 4.0
Official occupational information
- ONET51-4121.00
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
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 3.9% 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.
Recent Changes Affecting This Occupation
Mar 2026: Brookings study on worker retraining limits: historical programs like JTPA showed no significant employment improvement. Physical trades may be more resilient than office roles.
[Source: Brookings Institution]Mar 2026: Published blog: Will AI Replace Tool Makers? 15% exposure, precision craft remains human.
[Source: ACW Blog]Mar 2026: Updated blog to cover welding inspectors and AI-powered inspection systems
[Source: Blog Wave 19]