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AI Work Index

Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port)

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AI Exposure Rank

4/100

Very Low

Range 3–6/100 across source-weight sensitivity checks

Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port) has an AI Exposure Rank of 4/100, meaning its work is more exposed to current AI capabilities than approximately 4% of Singapore occupations. The evidence currently points to limited direct change; this is a relative rank, not a probability of job loss.

Limited direct change

Plant & Machine Operators & Assemblers·SGD 4,979/mo (3,390–6,496)·~7.7K workers in SG·Updated 2026-07-17

Relative AI exposure, not a prediction of job loss. Hiring, wages and role design depend on many forces this rank does not forecast.

Wage 86% above group median Exposure 10pp below group median #31 of 33 in Plant & Machine Operators & Assemblers →
01

How This Rank Is Built

The evidence behind this occupation's AI exposure, with human-work and demand context shown separately. How this works

Tasks AI can handle

With 8% AI task overlap (based on Felten AIOE, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou GPT exposure, and ILO occupational exposure), the Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port) tasks most exposed include: predictive maintenance scheduling, safety checklist automation, inventory management, and remote monitoring via sensors.

  • • Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
  • • Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
  • • Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.

O*NET tasks for this occupation with the most observed Claude usage (Anthropic task data).

What AI can't do here

At 60% human bottleneck protection, the tasks that remain hardest to automate for Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port) include: physical dexterity on job sites, real-time environmental adaptation, operating heavy equipment safely, and handling unexpected on-site conditions.

Main insulation channels: High-stakes decisions + Non-routine work — the work-context dimensions behind this occupation's human bottleneck.

Skills to focus on

Hands-On ExpertiseOn-Site Problem SolvingSafety ProtocolsEquipment Proficiency

Sources: Felten AIOE (2021), Anthropic Economic Index (2026), Eloundou GPT Exposure (Science, 2024), ILO GenAI (2025), Pizzinelli et al. bottleneck model. Full methodology.

From exposure to employment

What could change the employment outcome?

AI capability is only the starting point. Adoption, task design, human oversight, demand, mobility and evidence quality determine how exposure may resolve in practice.

01

Workplace adoption

Leading sectors represented

Some listed industries have MOM sector adoption evidence; observed-sector average 57.5%.

02

Task structure

Task evidence limited

100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage

03

Human advantage

Coordination and judgment still matter

At 60% human bottleneck protection, the tasks that remain hardest to automate for Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port) include: physical dexterity on job sites, real-time environmental adaptation, operating heavy equipment safely, and handling unexpected on-site conditions.

04

Hiring and demand

2.3% vacancy rate · 2026 Q1

Production and transport vacancies fell back from the Q4 spike and were slightly below a year earlier. Hiring remained net positive, retrenchments declined, and six-month re-entry improved. In 2025, this broad occupation group had 1.7% time-related underemployment and 10.3% non-permanent employment. Across the published male and female series, CPI-adjusted median income changed -4.1% to +5.0% from 2018 to 2023.

05

Career transitions

Crane operator (on-site)

moderate modeled transition; outcomes still depend on skills, wages and openings.

06

Evidence strength

medium confidence

4 exposure sources · sensitivity 3–6/100 across source-weight sensitivity checks.

These lenses are reported separately and do not alter AI Exposure Rank. Labour-market figures describe a broad official occupation cluster, not this SSOC occupation alone.

02

Singapore Now

Current labour market conditions and how they affect this role.

Cooling, but not collapsing. Vacancies are softer, yet retrenchment remains low and hiring still exceeds resignations.

Vacancy

2.3%

↓ 4.2% YoY

Hiring

1.7%

vs 1.2% resign

Retrenchment

0.3

per 1,000 · low

Re-entry

76.9%

find work in 12mo· -1.2pp

Production & Transport Operators, Cleaners & Labourers · 2026 Q1

Top Industries

Transportation & Storage
66%
Wholesale & Retail Trade
9%
Administrative & Support Services
2%

Industry vacancy overlays use the latest published detailed cross-tab, which can lag the main labour monitor.

03

What You Can Do

Frequently asked questions

Will AI replace Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port)?

Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port) has an AI Exposure Rank of 4/100, meaning its work is more exposed to current AI capabilities than approximately 4% of Singapore occupations. The evidence currently points to limited direct change; this is a relative rank, not a probability of job loss. AI Exposure Rank: 4/100 (Very Low). Median wage: SGD 4,979/month.

What is the AI exposure rank for Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port)?

Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port) has an AI Exposure Rank of 4/100, rated Very Low. It ranks higher than approximately 4% of Singapore occupations for exposure to current AI capabilities; it is not a job-loss probability.

What career transitions are available for Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port)?

Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port) has modeled transition pathways to related occupations. The strongest adjacent pathway is Crane operator (on-site), based on skill and wage similarity (model-estimated). Transition scoring accounts for wage preservation, training ease, and destination quality.

How does Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port) salary compare in the live market?

Crane/Hoist operator (excluding port) earns a median gross wage of SGD 4,979/month in the live market (25th-75th percentile: SGD 3,390-6,496). This is 11% above median across all 562 scored occupations, and 86% above group median within Plant & Machine Operators & Assemblers occupations.