Will AI replace electricians? Live data
Electricians have no observed exposure measured AI exposure: Claude usage data covers about 0% of the tasks in this job that AI could in theory speed up. UK adverts are -6.0% year on year, and US postings in Indeed's Installation & Maintenance category are -1.4%. Our ledger has no AI-attributed layoff events linked to this role yet.
How exposed is this job to AI?
The score is Anthropic's observed exposure for US occupation Electricians (SOC 47-2111). It takes the tasks that a language model could theoretically speed up and measures how many are actually showing up in real work-related Claude usage, with fully automated use counting more than assistance.
Dashed line = top third. This occupation is not in the top third. Ranked #346 of 756.
What the job involves
Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.
O*NET 31.0 description for Electricians. 21 of 21 tasks have a task-level score.
Tasks where AI use is most visible
No tasks with observed AI coverage.
Core tasks with no observed AI use
- Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
- Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
- Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
- Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps.
- Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
UK hiring: online job adverts
Monthly new online job adverts for UK SOC 2020 5241 Electricians and electrical fitters. Year-on-year change compares the last six months with the same months a year earlier, using only months published in both years.
Source: ONS, Online job advert estimates (Textkernel), published 22 October 2026, OGL v3.0. Gaps are suppressed cells. Official statistics in development: Oct 2025-Feb 2026 and Jun-Sep 2026 partly imputed; March 2026 suppressed; Textkernel taxonomy updates cause step changes, so compare recent years with care.
Live postings: UK and US (Indeed)
Indeed's Installation & Maintenance category index (covers more than this occupation).
Source: Indeed Hiring Lab job postings by sector, seasonally adjusted, 7-day average, to 16 Oct 2026. CC BY 4.0.
AI-attributed layoffs affecting related roles
None yet. That is not evidence of no impact - most job change happens through slower hiring, not announced layoffs.
Links between events and occupations are our editorial mapping, not company-stated.
What to do if you're one of the electricians
- Lean into the work AI isn't doing. In the usage data, core tasks such as "Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes" show no observed AI use. Building depth there is the most defensible part of the role.
- Watch hiring, not headlines. UK adverts for this role are down on a year ago, but compare with the wider market: all UK adverts are -3.4% on the same basis (dashboard). A fall that matches the whole market is a cycle, not an AI story.
- Check the claims. When a company says AI replaced jobs, look at its grade in our ledger - many announcements are mixed or AI-washed.
Data mapping for this page
| US occupation (exposure, tasks) | 47-2111 Electricians |
|---|---|
| UK SOC 2020 (ONS adverts) | 5241 Electricians and electrical fitters |
| Indeed category | Installation & Maintenance |
| Mapping confidence | high US 'Electricians' to UK 5241 'Electricians and electrical fitters'. |
The US SOC → UK SOC 2020 crosswalk is a documented best-effort editorial mapping; see methodology.
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