Segmental Pavers
Machines can already do 9% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 40%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Segmental Pavers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 9% of this job's tasks.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2038, and 40% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Contact with people: it scores 87% for contact with people.
- Also called: Cutter, Paver, Paver Installer, Paver Layer.
- Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.
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 base for installation by removing unstable or unsuitable materials, compacting and grading the soil, draining or stabilizing weak or saturated soils and taking measures to prevent water penetration and migration of bedding sand | 22% | 3% to 30% | |
| Set pavers, aligning and spacing them correctly | 20% | 3% to 30% | |
| Supply and place base materials, edge restraints, bedding sand and jointing sand | 15% | 3% to 30% | |
| Cut paving stones to size and for edges, using a splitter and a masonry saw | 10% | 20% to 60% | |
| Sweep sand into the joints and compact pavement until the joints are full | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Screed sand level to an even thickness, and recheck sand exposed to elements, raking and rescreeding if necessary | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Compact bedding sand and pavers to finish the paved area, using a plate compactor | 5% | 3% to 30% | |
| Design paver installation layout pattern and create markings for directional references of joints and stringlines | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills segmental pavers use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much segmental pavers rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, low confidence.
- Go-to problem solver5/10
- Trust and reliability5/10
- Know-how about the organisation4/10
- Network and relationships4/10
- Mentoring and developing others2/10
- Culture and morale4/10
- Initiative beyond the role2/10
- Calm in a crisis4/10
- Bridge between teams3/10
- Reputation and influence2/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
This job is already among the lowest risk for its skill shape.
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Segmental Pavers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2038. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of segmental pavers?
Machines can do 9% of the tasks of segmental pavers today and 40% 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 47-4091.00 (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, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, low confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Segmental Pavers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/segmental-pavers/