Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 8/30/2026
AI Resilience Score for First-Line Supervisors:
46.8%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Low
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Most data sources align, with only minor variation. This is a well-supported result.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forFirst-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
$58,170 median salary•900 annual openings•SOC Code: 53-1042.00
First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
This career sits in the "Somewhat Resilient" category because AI is genuinely changing how the work gets done, even if it is not eliminating the role entirely. The routine, paperwork-heavy parts of the job (like logging inspection results, tracking inventory, and monitoring worker performance) are being handled more and more by automated systems, which means supervisors who only focus on those tasks will find their responsibilities shrinking.
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More career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreThis role is somewhat resilient
This career sits in the "Somewhat Resilient" category because AI is genuinely changing how the work gets done, even if it is not eliminating the role entirely. The routine, paperwork-heavy parts of the job (like logging inspection results, tracking inventory, and monitoring worker performance) are being handled more and more by automated systems, which means supervisors who only focus on those tasks will find their responsibilities shrinking.
Read full analysisLearn more about how you can thrive in this position
View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
First-Line Supervisors
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing First-Line Supervisors jobs?
If you're thinking about a career leading warehouse and material-moving teams, here's the good news: AI is mostly showing up as a helper, not a replacement. A big new study from MIT's Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab and Mecalux found that more than 90% of warehouses now use some form of AI or advanced automation, and roughly 60% are operating at advanced maturity levels, supporting workflows like labor planning, performance monitoring, safety risk detection, inventory accuracy, and order routing [1]. That covers exactly the paperwork-heavy tasks (like logging inspection results or checking loaded materials against work orders) where the automation scores are highest.
On the people side, the same research shows more than three-quarters of surveyed organizations saw a rise in employee satisfaction after implementing AI, and over half reported increased workforce size, driven by new roles such as AI/ML engineers, automation specialists, process-improvement experts, and data scientists. Supervisors are shifting toward coaching, exception-handling, and robot oversight — Gartner predicts by 2030, 80% of humans in warehouses will engage with smart robots on a daily basis, and one in 20 supply chain managers will manage robots rather than humans [2].
How fast is AI adoption growing for First-Line Supervisors?
Adoption is moving fast. The 2026 MHI Annual Industry Report found 41% of supply chain companies are using AI, up from 30% the year before, with top uses including automating decisions in operations [3], and labor shortages and rising wage costs are persistent drivers of automation adoption, with warehousing roles increasingly difficult to fill. Still, broader Federal Reserve tracking shows AI uptake is strongest in professional and financial services rather than physical-operations sectors [4], so full deployment on the warehouse floor lags.
The biggest slowdowns are change management, data quality, and integrating legacy systems — meaning human supervisors who can coach teams, resolve conflicts, and troubleshoot are more valuable than ever.
Sources
Will AI replace First-Line Supervisors?
Not entirely. We think AI will take over some tasks, but not the whole job.
Our data gives this role a 46.8% AI Resilience Score, which tells you the impact is real but not total. AI is already handling a lot of the paperwork-heavy work: logging inspection results, monitoring performance, routing orders, and flagging safety risks. More than 90% of warehouses now use some form of AI or advanced automation [1], and that number is climbing fast, with 41% of supply chain companies actively using AI, up from 30% the year before [3].
What stays human is the messy, relational part of the job. Coaching a struggling worker, resolving a conflict on the floor, making a judgment call when something goes sideways, these are not things an algorithm handles well. Gartner predicts that by 2030, 80% of warehouse workers will engage with smart robots daily [2], which means supervisors are becoming robot wranglers and team coaches more than clipboard managers.
The economic picture is mixed but not grim. Adaptive capacity scores for this role are strong, meaning people in this work have real options to shift with the changes. The workers who will do best are the ones who get comfortable with automation tools while doubling down on the human skills no system can replicate.
Sources
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Latest AI news for First-Line Supervisors
These articles provide valuable insights for students interested in becoming First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers. The BLS article highlights the risk of job displacement due to automation, emphasizing the need for adaptability in a changing work landscape. Meanwhile, the AI Job Checker indicates a moderate risk of AI replacement, suggesting that while full automation is unlikely, significant changes are on the horizon. By staying informed and developing skills that complement AI technologies, students can enhance their resilience and thrive in this evolving career path.
Artificial Intelligence and Employment: New Cross-Country ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov • 8/20/2026
by A Georgieff · 2022 · Cited by 220 — On the one hand, AI may depress employment via automation/substitution. On the other, it may increase it by raising worker productivity. Focusing on the ... Read more
Occupation Details | CareerZone | Department of Labor
careerzone.labor.ny.gov • 8/20/2026
First -Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand. $31,400.00. Starting NY Salary. Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training. Read more
First Line Supervisors: AI Replacement Risk Analysis - AI Job Checker
www.aijobchecker.com • 8/20/2026
Will AI replace First Line Supervisors Of Helpers Laborers And Material Movers Hand? With a 56/100 risk score, full replacement is unlikely but significant ...
Opinion | How AI is impacting 700 professions — and might impact yours
www.washingtonpost.com • 7/28/2025
Will AI help you work or replace you? Check yourself.
Growth trends for selected occupations considered at risk from automation
www.bls.gov • 7/13/2022
Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics have led to substantial concern that large-scale job losses are imminent.
More Career Info
Career: First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
They oversee workers who move materials, making sure tasks are done safely and efficiently while solving any problems that come up.
Parent Careers
Similar Careers
Employment & Wage Data
* Data estimated from parent occupation
Median Wage
$58,170
Jobs (2025)
9,700
Growth (2025-35)
+9.3%
Annual Openings
900
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
Less than 5 years
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Perform the same work duties as those supervised, or perform more difficult or skilled tasks or assist in their performance.
2
Resolve personnel problems, complaints, or formal grievances when possible, or refer them to higher-level supervisors for resolution.
3
Counsel employees in work-related activities, personal growth, or career development.
4
Collaborate with workers and managers to solve work-related problems.
5
Recommend or initiate personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, or disciplinary measures.
6
Review work throughout the work process and at completion to ensure that it has been performed properly.
7
Participate in the hiring process by reviewing credentials, conducting interviews, or making hiring decisions or recommendations.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
