Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
Machines can already do 32% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 59%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 32% of this job's tasks.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 59% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Contact with people: it scores 78% for contact with people.
- Also called: Clinical Chemist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Histologist Technologist.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine, or spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal or abnormal components | 17% | 18% to 51% | |
| Analyze laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results | 12% | 74% to 82% | |
| Collect and study blood samples to determine the number of cells, their morphology, or their blood group, blood type, or compatibility for transfusion purposes, using microscopic techniques | 12% | 27% to 64% | |
| Operate, calibrate, or maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, or computer-controlled analyzers | 12% | 27% to 64% | |
| Cultivate, isolate, or assist in identifying microbial organisms or perform various tests on these microorganisms | 8% | 18% to 51% | |
| Enter data from analysis of medical tests or clinical results into computer for storage | 7% | 76% to 82% | |
| Establish or monitor quality assurance programs or activities to ensure the accuracy of laboratory results | 7% | 32% to 55% | |
| Set up, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment | 5% | 3% to 25% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills medical and clinical laboratory technologists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Nurse Anesthetists36% of tasks by 2035 · US median $236,590
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists55% of tasks by 2035 · US median $101,370
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary52% of tasks by 2035 · US median $80,250
- Cardiologists57% of tasks by 2035 · US median $496,010
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists?
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 medical and clinical laboratory technologists?
Machines can do 32% of the tasks of medical and clinical laboratory technologists today and 59% 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 29-2011.00 (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). Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technologists/