Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

Apply plasterboard or other wallboard to ceilings or interior walls of buildings. Apply or mount acoustical tiles or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings and walls of buildings to reduce or reflect sound. Materials may be of decorative quality. Includes lathers who fasten wooden, metal, or rockboard lath to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings to provide support base for plaster, fireproofing, or acoustical material.

The occupation "Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers" carries a relatively low automation risk of 6.7%. This base risk indicates that the majority of tasks involved in this career require a level of manual dexterity, adaptability, and contextual problem-solving that current automation technologies struggle to replicate efficiently. While some aspects of the installation process are repetitive or rule-based, these activities are often intertwined with variable site conditions and human-centric decision making. The industry also deals with unique layouts, spatial constraints, and frequent need for communication with other construction professionals, adding layers of complexity that hinder full automation. As a result, while automation may assist or augment some functions, total replacement appears unlikely in the near term. The top three most automatable tasks for drywall and ceiling tile installers include: "Read blueprints or other specifications to determine methods of installation, work procedures, or material or tool requirements," "Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices," and "Fit and fasten wallboard or drywall into position on wood or metal frameworks, using glue, nails, or screws." These tasks are heavily guided by standard procedures, precise instructions, and tools that lend themselves to automation via software, robotic arms, and vision systems. These components are also foundational steps in the installation workflow, suggesting that future advancements in technology may automate elements of preparation and assembly, thereby improving productivity but not replacing skilled labor completely. Conversely, the occupation demonstrates strong resistance to automation in tasks that require a high degree of tactile skill, adaptability, or context-aware evaluation. The three most resistant tasks include: "Wash concrete surfaces before mounting tile to increase adhesive qualities of surfaces, using washing soda and zinc sulfate solution," "Apply cement to backs of tiles and press tiles into place, aligning them with layout marks or joints of previously laid tile," and "Install metal lath where plaster applications will be exposed to weather or water, or for curved or irregular surfaces." These activities require nuanced judgment, manual control, and adaptability to variable or non-standard conditions that current robotic systems cannot easily execute. Bottleneck skills such as originality, reflected in the low levels of automation risk for originality-driven tasks (2.3% and 2.1%), further reinforce the necessity of human workers to address unexpected challenges and devise creative solutions, ensuring continued demand for skilled drywall and ceiling tile installers.