Fishing and Hunting Workers
Machines can already do 14% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 46%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Fishing and Hunting Workers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 14% of this job's tasks.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2036, and 46% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Contact with people: it scores 71% for contact with people.
- Also called: Commercial Fisherman, Commercial Fishing Vessel Operator, Deckhand, Fisherman.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove catches from fishing equipment and measure them to ensure compliance with legal size | 9% | 3% to 30% | |
| Put fishing equipment into the water and anchor or tow equipment, according to the fishing method used | 9% | 3% to 30% | |
| Steer vessels and operate navigational instruments | 8% | 30% to 75% | |
| Maintain engines, fishing gear, and other on-board equipment and perform minor repairs | 8% | 3% to 30% | |
| Sort, pack, and store catch in holds with salt and ice | 7% | 20% to 60% | |
| Patrol trap lines or nets to inspect settings, remove catch, and reset or relocate traps | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Harvest marine life for human or animal consumption, using diving or dredging equipment, traps, barges, rods, reels, or tackle | 5% | 3% to 30% | |
| Travel on foot, by vehicle, or by equipment such as boats, snowmobiles, helicopters, snowshoes, or skis to reach hunting areas | 4% | 45% to 85% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills fishing and hunting workers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Segmental Pavers40% of tasks by 2035
- Embalmers39% of tasks by 2035 · US median $58,780
- Animal Control Workers44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $45,660
- Firefighters37% of tasks by 2035 · US median $59,280
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Fishing and Hunting Workers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2036. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of fishing and hunting workers?
Machines can do 14% of the tasks of fishing and hunting workers today and 46% 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 45-3031.00 (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). Fishing and Hunting Workers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/fishing-and-hunting-workers/