Can AI Replace Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists in 2026?

Moderate exposure. AI could handle about 73% of today's human factors engineers and ergonomists tasks by 2036, and there is a 36% chance the number of jobs falls by a fifth or more. AI both assists and takes over tasks.

See how not to be replaced

Timeline

Year2030

Tasks AI can do

38%

Headcount (2025 = 100)

Chance of 20%+ fewer jobs

14% 2030 · 36% 2036

One person could cover, 2036

2 roles

Share of today's tasks AI can perform

Headcount index, 2025 = 100 (dashed line)

Your survival map

Not every part of your job is at the same risk. Tap a number to see what to do about each task.

Your human coreDo it with AIHand to AI

Tap a number on the map or a task below.

Lower-risk jobs that use similar skills

Fuel Cell Engineers22% risk by 2036 Robotics Engineers24% risk by 2036 Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health25% risk by 2036

Your plan

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Try an AI tool on one task you'd normally do by hand: "Prepare reports or presentations summarizing results or conclusions of human factors engineering or ergonomics activities, such as testing, investigation, or validation".Learn one AI tool well enough to show it in an interview, for: "Review health, safety, accident, or worker compensation records to evaluate safety program effectiveness or to identify jobs with high incidence of injury".Get visibly better at your human core: "Integrate human factors requirements into operational hardware".Rewrite the top of your CV around judgment, people and decisions, not routine output.Read about a lower-risk move: Fuel Cell Engineers.

Lower-risk jobs with similar tasks

Fuel Cell Engineers — 22% chance of contraction by 2036
Robotics Engineers — 24% chance of contraction by 2036
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — 25% chance of contraction by 2036

Similar occupations

Computer Systems Engineers/Architects · Web and Digital Interface Designers · Software Developers · Computer Network Architects

Based on 26 O*NET tasks for "Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists" (SOC 17-2112.01). LLM alone: 14% of tasks; with AI tools: 88%. Projections are a model, not official statistics. How we calculate this · Data version 2026-10