Industrial Ecologists
Machines can already do 47% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 78%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Industrial Ecologists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 47% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 5% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2027, and 78% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 89,250 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $82,220 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 57% for contact with people.
- Also called: Ecologist, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Protection Agency Counselor, Research Scientist.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public | 8% | 50% to 78% | |
| Identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects | 6% | 55% to 85% | |
| Identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes | 6% | 40% to 75% | |
| Analyze changes designed to improve the environmental performance of complex systems and avoid unintended negative consequences | 5% | 55% to 85% | |
| Conduct environmental sustainability assessments, using material flow analysis (MFA) or substance flow analysis (SFA) techniques | 5% | 55% to 85% | |
| Identify sustainable alternatives to industrial or waste-management practices | 5% | 45% to 85% | |
| Review research literature to maintain knowledge on topics related to industrial ecology, such as physical science, technology, economy, and public policy | 5% | 45% to 80% | |
| Examine local, regional, or global use and flow of materials or energy in industrial production processes | 5% | 48% to 82% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills industrial ecologists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $171,270
- Solar Energy Systems Engineers67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Environmental Restoration Planners63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $82,220
- Wind Energy Engineers66% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Industrial Ecologists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2027. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of industrial ecologists?
Machines can do 47% of the tasks of industrial ecologists today and 78% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 19-2041.03 (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). Industrial Ecologists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/industrial-ecologists/