Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
Machines can already do 17% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 54%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 17% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2034, and 54% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 16,170 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $46,880 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 73% for contact with people.
- Also called: Boat Builder, Boat Carpenter, Chopper Gun Operator, Fiberglass Laminator.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pat or press layers of saturated mat or cloth into place on molds, using brushes or hands, and smooth out wrinkles and air bubbles with hands or squeegees | 14% | 3% to 30% | |
| Release air bubbles and smooth seams, using rollers | 13% | 20% to 60% | |
| Spray chopped fiberglass, resins, and catalysts onto prepared molds or dies using pneumatic spray guns with chopper attachments | 12% | 20% to 60% | |
| Mix catalysts into resins, and saturate cloth and mats with mixtures, using brushes | 8% | 20% to 60% | |
| Apply layers of plastic resin to mold surfaces prior to placement of fiberglass mats, repeating layers until products have the desired thicknesses and plastics have jelled | 8% | 20% to 60% | |
| Trim excess materials from molds, using hand shears or trimming knives | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Inspect, clean, and assemble molds before beginning work | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Check completed products for conformance to specifications and for defects by measuring with rulers or micrometers, by checking them visually, or by tapping them to detect bubbles or dead spots | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills fiberglass laminators and fabricators use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Riggers52% of tasks by 2035 · US median $62,640
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers52% of tasks by 2035 · US median $49,450
- Opticians, Dispensing46% of tasks by 2035 · US median $47,260
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $58,340
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2034. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of fiberglass laminators and fabricators?
Machines can do 17% of the tasks of fiberglass laminators and fabricators today and 54% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 51-2051.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/fiberglass-laminators-and-fabricators/