Can AI Replace Social Science Research Assistants in 2026?

Moderate exposure. AI could handle about 78% of today's social science research assistants tasks by 2036, and there is a 48% chance the number of jobs falls by a fifth or more. AI is likely to take over many tasks outright.

See how not to be replaced

Timeline

Year2030

Tasks AI can do

47%

Headcount (2025 = 100)

Chance of 20%+ fewer jobs

17% 2030 · 48% 2036

One person could cover, 2036

3.1 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

Biological Technicians23% risk by 2036 Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians7% risk by 2036 Bioinformatics Technicians36% risk by 2036

Your plan

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Try an AI tool on one task you'd normally do by hand: "Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning".Learn one AI tool well enough to show it in an interview, for: "Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results".Get visibly better at your human core: "Obtain informed consent of research subjects or their guardians".Rewrite the top of your CV around judgment, people and decisions, not routine output.Read about a lower-risk move: Biological Technicians.

Lower-risk jobs with similar tasks

Biological Technicians — 23% chance of contraction by 2036
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians — 7% chance of contraction by 2036
Bioinformatics Technicians — 36% chance of contraction by 2036

Similar occupations

Statistical Assistants · Survey Researchers · Biostatisticians · Clinical Research Coordinators

Based on 23 O*NET tasks for "Social Science Research Assistants" (SOC 19-4061.00). LLM alone: 42% of tasks; with AI tools: 91%. Projections are a model, not official statistics. How we calculate this · Data version 2026-10