ISCO-08 7122
Floor layers and tile setters
6.4%
ADI · 383rd of 433 · 95% interval 1.4–12.6
An AI agent can at least partly carry out 6.4% of the task time of floor layers and tile setters, and finish 0.0% alone. Most of the rest requires physical presence.
ADI · partial or full6.4%
383rd of 433 · interval 1.4–12.6
ADI3 · full delegation0.0%
201st of 433 · interval 0.0–0.0
ADIs · share of time9.4%
408th of 433 · interval 6.6–13.2
Evidence62
task statements rated by two models and weighted by importance and frequency. World employment: 1.6 million.
Task weight by level
How the tasks rate
L0No meaningful role · 88.2%L1Augmentation · 5.4%L2Partial delegation · 6.4%L3Full delegation · 0.0%
Barriers
What stops the agent
Share of task weight flagged by each barrier; a task can carry several.
62 task statements, heaviest first
| Task statement (O*NET occupation) | Sonnet · Haiku | Barriers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspect floors for smoothness.Floor Sanders and Finishers | 4.0% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 25 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Attach sandpaper to rollers of sanding machines.Floor Sanders and Finishers | 3.9% | L0 | L0L0 | 0% | 9 min | Physical presence |
| Buff and vacuum floors to ensure their cleanliness prior to the application of finish.Floor Sanders and Finishers | 3.8% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 1.0 h | Physical presence |
| Guide sanding machines over surfaces of floors until surfaces are smooth.Floor Sanders and Finishers | 3.8% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 2.3 h | Physical presence |
| Scrape and sand floor edges and areas inaccessible to floor sanders, using scrapers, disk-type sanders, and sandpaper.Floor Sanders and Finishers | 3.8% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 1.5 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Apply filler compound and coats of finish to floors to seal wood.Floor Sanders and Finishers | 3.4% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 3.5 h | Physical presence |
| Remove excess glue from joints, using knives, scrapers, or wood chisels.Floor Sanders and Finishers | 2.3% | L0 | L0L0 | 1% | 20 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 2.1% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 25 min | Physical presence |
| Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 2.1% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 1.3 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Apply adhesive cement to floor or wall material to join and adhere foundation material.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 2.1% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 1.0 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Roll out, measure, mark, and cut carpeting to size with a carpet knife, following floor sketches and allowing extra carpet for final fitting.Carpet Installers | 2.0% | L0 | L0L1 | 8% | 1.0 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form tight joint.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 2.0% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 1.0 h | Physical presence |
| Inspect surface to be covered to ensure that it is firm and dry.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 2.0% | L0 | L0L1 | 9% | 18 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Inspect the surface to be covered to determine its condition, and correct any imperfections that might show through carpet or cause carpet to wear unevenly.Carpet Installers | 1.9% | L0 | L0L0 | 6% | 1.5 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Cut and trim carpet to fit along wall edges, openings, and projections, finishing the edges with a wall trimmer.Carpet Installers | 1.9% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 1.1 h | Physical presence |
Show the other 47 tasks
| Task statement (O*NET occupation) | Sonnet · Haiku | Barriers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut covering and foundation materials, according to blueprints and sketches.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 1.9% | L0 | L0L2 | 18% | 52 min | Physical presence |
| Form a smooth foundation by stapling plywood or Masonite over the floor or by brushing waterproof compound onto surface and filling cracks with plaster, putty, or grout to seal pores.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 1.9% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 3.0 h | Physical presence |
| Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces or foundations, using chalk lines and dividers.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 1.8% | L0 | L0L1 | 8% | 35 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Determine traffic areas and decide location of seams.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 1.8% | L1 | L1L2 | 32% | 38 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Join edges of carpet and seam edges where necessary, by sewing or by using tape with glue and heated carpet iron.Carpet Installers | 1.8% | L0 | L0L1 | 4% | 45 min | Physical presence |
| Lay out, position, and apply shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors, walls, and cabinets, following guidelines to keep courses straight and create designs.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 1.7% | L0 | L0L1 | 9% | 4.0 h | Physical presence |
| Stretch carpet to align with walls and ensure a smooth surface, and press carpet in place over tack strips or use staples, tape, tacks or glue to hold carpet in place.Carpet Installers | 1.7% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 2.0 h | Physical presence |
| Clean up before and after installation, including vacuuming carpet and discarding remnant pieces.Carpet Installers | 1.7% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 38 min | Physical presence |
| Plan the layout of the carpet, allowing for expected traffic patterns and placing seams for best appearance and longest wear.Carpet Installers | 1.6% | L2 | L2L2 | 58% | 42 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Roll and press sheet wall and floor covering into cement base to smooth and finish surface, using hand roller.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 1.6% | L0 | L0L0 | 1% | 38 min | Physical presence |
| Align and straighten tile using levels, squares, and straightedges.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.6% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 32 min | Physical presence |
| Remove excess cement to clean finished surface.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 1.6% | L0 | L0L0 | 1% | 45 min | Physical presence |
| Take measurements and study floor sketches to calculate the area to be carpeted and the amount of material needed.Carpet Installers | 1.5% | L2 | L2L2 | 52% | 45 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Install carpet on some floors using adhesive, following prescribed method.Carpet Installers | 1.5% | L0 | L0L0 | 6% | 3.5 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Fasten metal treads across door openings or where carpet meets flooring to hold carpet in place.Carpet Installers | 1.5% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 28 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Measure, cut and install tackless strips along the baseboard or wall.Carpet Installers | 1.4% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 1.3 h | Physical presence |
| Cut carpet padding to size and install padding, following prescribed method.Carpet Installers | 1.4% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 52 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Cut and shape tile to fit around obstacles and into odd spaces and corners, using hand and power cutting tools.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.4% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 9 min | Physical presence |
| Mix, apply, and spread plaster, concrete, mortar, cement, mastic, glue or other adhesives to form a bed for the tiles, using brush, trowel and screed.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.4% | L0 | L0L1 | 5% | 45 min | Physical presence |
| Nail tack strips around area to be carpeted or use old strips to attach edges of new carpet.Carpet Installers | 1.4% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 1.3 h | Physical presence |
| Finish and dress the joints and wipe excess grout from between tiles, using damp sponge.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.4% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 38 min | Physical presence |
| Heat and soften floor covering materials to patch cracks or fit floor coverings around irregular surfaces, using blowtorch.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles · supplemental task | 1.4% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 25 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Determine and implement the best layout to achieve a desired pattern.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.3% | L1 | L1L2 | 38% | 1.8 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Apply mortar to tile back, position the tile, and press or tap with trowel handle to affix tile to base.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.3% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 2 min | Physical presence |
| Cut and bind material.Carpet Installers | 1.2% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 45 min | Physical presence |
| Disconnect and remove appliances, light fixtures, and worn floor and wall covering from floors, walls, and cabinets.Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 1.2% | L0 | L0L1 | 7% | 2.3 h | Physical presence, Accountability |
| Measure and mark surfaces to be tiled, following blueprints.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.2% | L1 | L1L2 | 28% | 1.0 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Move furniture from area to be carpeted and remove old carpet and padding.Carpet Installers | 1.1% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 2.0 h | Physical presence |
| Mix and apply mortar or cement to edges and ends of drain tiles to seal halves and joints.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.1% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 22 min | Physical presence |
| Draw building diagrams and record dimensions.Carpet Installers | 1.1% | L1 | L1L2 | 32% | 38 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Study blueprints and examine surface to be covered to determine amount of material needed.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.1% | L2 | L2L2 | 52% | 1.0 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Install and anchor fixtures in designated positions, using hand tools.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.0% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 45 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Lay and set mosaic tiles to create decorative wall, mural, and floor designs.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.0% | L0 | L0L1 | 10% | 6.0 h | Physical presence |
| Cut tile backing to required size, using shears.Tile and Stone Setters | 1.0% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 8 min | Physical presence |
| Spread mastic or other adhesive base on roof deck to form base for promenade tile, using serrated spreader.Tile and Stone Setters · supplemental task | 1.0% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 1.4 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Apply a sealer to make grout stain- and water-resistant.Tile and Stone Setters | 0.9% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 1.0 h | Physical presence |
| Measure and cut metal lath to size for walls and ceilings, using tin snips.Tile and Stone Setters | 0.9% | L0 | L0L0 | 5% | 15 min | Physical presence |
| Prepare surfaces for tiling by attaching lath or waterproof paper, or by applying a cement mortar coat to a metal screen.Tile and Stone Setters | 0.8% | L0 | L0L1 | 5% | 2.0 h | Physical presence |
| Level concrete and allow to dry.Tile and Stone Setters | 0.8% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 2.3 h | Physical presence |
| Cut, surface, polish, and install marble and granite or install pre-cast terrazzo, granite or marble units.Tile and Stone Setters | 0.8% | L0 | L0L1 | 8% | 6.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability |
| Assist customers in selection of tile and grout.Tile and Stone Setters · supplemental task | 0.8% | L2 | L2L3 | 65% | 45 min | Physical presence, Trust and care |
| Remove and replace cracked or damaged tile.Tile and Stone Setters | 0.8% | L0 | L0L1 | 10% | 1.8 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Brush glue onto manila paper on which design has been drawn and position tiles, finished side down, onto paper.Tile and Stone Setters · supplemental task | 0.8% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 40 min | Physical presence |
| Prepare cost and labor estimates, based on calculations of time and materials needed for project.Tile and Stone Setters · supplemental task | 0.7% | L2 | L2L2 | 70% | 1.5 h | Access to systems |
| Select and order tile and other items to be installed, such as bathroom accessories, walls, panels, and cabinets, according to specifications.Tile and Stone Setters · supplemental task | 0.7% | L2 | L2L2 | 62% | 1.8 h | Access to systems |
| Remove any old tile, grout and adhesive using chisels and scrapers and clean the surface carefully.Tile and Stone Setters | 0.7% | L0 | L0L1 | 2% | 2.8 h | Physical presence |
| Build underbeds and install anchor bolts, wires, and brackets.Tile and Stone Setters · supplemental task | 0.5% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 2.3 h | Physical presence |
Level: consensus of the two models (the lower level when they disagree). Share: part of the task’s working time an agent could take over. Human time: minutes a competent person needs for one instance, as estimated by the models.
Against other measures
Exposure is not delegation
| Measure | Value | Percentile | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADI (this index) | 6.4% | 12 | |
| Eloundou et al. (2024), GPT exposure β | 0.058 | 10 | |
| Felten et al. (2021), AI occupational exposure | -1.46 | 5 | |
| Webb (2020), AI patent exposure | 35 | 26 | |
| Eisfeldt et al. (2026), generative AI exposure | 0 | 4 | |
| Anthropic Economic Index, observed use | 0 | 16 |
Earlier indices measure whether AI can touch a task; ADI measures how much of it an agent can carry out from a goal. – : the source does not cover this occupation.
Same sub-major group (71)
Neighbouring occupations
| Occupation | ADI | % |
|---|---|---|
| House builders 7111 | 77.9 | |
| Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics 7127 | 25.4 | |
| Carpenters and joiners 7115 | 21.9 | |
| Insulation workers 7124 | 20.6 | |
| Building frame and related trades workers not elsewhere classified 7119 | 16.1 | |
| Glaziers 7125 | 12.4 | |
| Plumbers and pipe fitters 7126 | 11.5 | |
| Painters and related workers 7131 | 11.4 | |
| Building structure cleaners 7133 | 7.5 | |
| Bricklayers and related workers 7112 | 5.2 | |
| Roofers 7121 | 5.1 | |
| Plasterers 7123 | 4.3 |
Dashed line: floor layers and tile setters (6.4%).
Cite this record
Text
Espinal Maya, Cristian, and Santiago Jiménez Londoño. 2026. ADI v2026.1: Agent Delegability Index data, code and MCP server. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23552918. Record: Floor layers and tile setters (ISCO-08 7122), https://balamlabs.org/adi/occupations/7122
BibTeX
@misc{espinal2026adidata,
title = {{ADI} v2026.1: Agent Delegability Index data, code and {MCP} server},
author = {Espinal Maya, Cristian and Jim{\'e}nez Londo{\~n}o, Santiago},
year = {2026},
publisher = {Zenodo},
version = {v2026.1},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.23552918},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23552918},
note = {Record: Floor layers and tile setters (ISCO-08 7122)}
}Machine-readable
The same record as static JSON, with its citation: /adi/v2026.1/isco/7122.json.