First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
Machines can already do 28% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 58%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 28% of this job's tasks.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 58% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Contact with people: it scores 82% for contact with people.
- Also called: Floor Supervisor, Packaging Supervisor, Receiving Manager, Receiving Supervisor.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perform the same work duties as those supervised, or perform more difficult or skilled tasks or assist in their performance | 18% | 30% to 75% | |
| Review work throughout the work process and at completion to ensure that it has been performed properly | 11% | 3% to 30% | |
| Collaborate with workers and managers to solve work-related problems | 8% | 10% to 27% | |
| Maintain a safe working environment by monitoring safety procedures and equipment | 7% | 3% to 30% | |
| Prepare and maintain work records and reports of information such as employee time and wages, daily receipts, or inspection results | 7% | 70% to 95% | |
| Transmit and explain work orders to laborers | 7% | 25% to 47% | |
| Plan work schedules and assign duties to maintain adequate staff for effective performance of activities and response to fluctuating workloads | 7% | 50% to 82% | |
| Inform designated employees or departments of items loaded or problems encountered | 4% | 30% to 54% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills first-line supervisors of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- General and Operations Managers49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $105,770
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers56% of tasks by 2035 · US median $79,860
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers57% of tasks by 2035 · US median $79,920
- Labor Relations Specialists52% of tasks by 2035 · US median $95,420
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of first-line supervisors of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand?
Machines can do 28% of the tasks of first-line supervisors of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand today and 58% 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 53-1042.00 (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). First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/first-line-supervisors-of-helpers-laborers-and-material-movers-hand/