Can AI Replace Urban and Regional Planners in 2026?

High exposure. AI could handle about 77% of today's urban and regional planners tasks by 2036, and there is a 57% 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

37%

Headcount (2025 = 100)

Chance of 20%+ fewer jobs

18% 2030 · 57% 2036

One person could cover, 2036

2.5 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

Hydrologists41% risk by 2036 Conservation Scientists44% risk by 2036 Electrical Engineers31% risk by 2036

Your plan

Ticks are saved in this browser only.

Try an AI tool on one task you'd normally do by hand: "Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density".Learn one AI tool well enough to show it in an interview, for: "Research, compile, analyze and organize information from maps, reports, investigations, and books for use in reports and special projects".Get visibly better at your human core: "Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues…".Rewrite the top of your CV around judgment, people and decisions, not routine output.Read about a lower-risk move: Hydrologists.

Lower-risk jobs with similar tasks

Hydrologists — 41% chance of contraction by 2036
Conservation Scientists — 44% chance of contraction by 2036
Electrical Engineers — 31% chance of contraction by 2036

Similar occupations

Transportation Planners · Industrial Ecologists · Chief Sustainability Officers · Environmental Engineers

Based on 25 O*NET tasks for "Urban and Regional Planners" (SOC 19-3051.00). LLM alone: 0% of tasks; with AI tools: 96%. Projections are a model, not official statistics. How we calculate this · Data version 2026-10