Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop
Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts and field crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting, weeding, thinning, or pruning crops; applying pesticides; cleaning, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities.
AI Impact Summary
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 39/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 78% of all analyzed occupations. Of 14 analyzed tasks, 1 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Google UX Design Professional Certificate
by Google
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Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Google Project Management: Professional Certificate
by Google
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
14 tasks analyzed
Apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to crops.
Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.
Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.
Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers.
Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops.
Set up and operate irrigation equipment.
Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.
Clear and maintain irrigation ditches.
Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.
Dig and plant seeds, or transplant seedlings by hand.
Repair farm buildings, fences, and other structures.
Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.
Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to crops. | 70Estimated | 61.0% | 8% | |
| Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. | 50Estimated | 35.0% | 3% | |
| Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 5% | |
| Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers. | 75Estimated | 57.0% | 4% | |
| Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops. | 75Estimated | 63.0% | 15% | |
| Set up and operate irrigation equipment. | 60Estimated | 57.0% | 10% | |
| Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 8% | |
| Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Dig and plant seeds, or transplant seedlings by hand. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 10% | |
| Repair farm buildings, fences, and other structures. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 5% | |
| Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops. | 59.1Observed | 56.6% | 8% | |
| Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 10% | |
| Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities. | 55Estimated | 55.0% | 6% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 20.2%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$35,690
per year
Mean Wage
$37,850
per year
Employment
262K
workers
Wage Range
$32,260 - $46,370
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Equipment Maintenance
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
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