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Activity leader

Also called youth leader, workshop leader, youth coordinator

Activity leaders provide recreational services to people and children on vacation. They organise activities such as games for children, sport competitions, cycling tours, shows and museum visits. Recreational animators also advertise their activities, manage the available budget for each event and consult their colleagues.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects52 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,400 (Bulgaria) to €6,600 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree. 7 in 10 train through vocational routes.Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Fitness and recreation instructors and programme leaders · ILO

What you'd do

Fitness and recreation instructors and programme leaders · ILO
  • Planning and carrying out recreational and fitness activities
  • Monitoring recreational, sports or fitness activities to ensure safety and provide emergency or first aid assistance when required
  • Evaluating and monitoring clients‚Äô abilities and fitness and recommending activities
  • Demonstrating and teaching body movements, concepts and skills used in fitness routines and recreational activities
  • Instructing in the use of equipment
  • Explaining and enforcing safety procedures, rules and regulations
Manage groups outdoorsManage outdoor resourcesImplement risk management for outdoorsAssess risk in the outdoorsGive feedback on changing circumstances+ 15 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually under 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Recreation Workers"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals in the EU
3.99m3.83m4.95m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
915,000 new jobs 1,198,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals52
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of fitness and recreation instructors and programme leaders, 8 a surplus.
Fitness and recreation instructors and programme leaders · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,400 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,600 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in sports is the usual route.

Highest qualification of legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 44%Vocational 33%General secondary 15%Basic schooling 8%
Field that teaches it
Sports
Vocational route, EU
7 in 10 trainees in this field
Services graduates in a matching job
59% in the EU

819 institutions in the EU offer services bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.25 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Instructing in the use of equipment0.33
Planning and carrying out recreational and fitness activities0.28
Evaluating and monitoring clients’ abilities and fitness and recommending activities0.26
Demonstrating and teaching body movements, concepts and skills used in fitness routines and recreational activities0.24
Explaining and enforcing safety procedures, rules and regulations0.24
Monitoring recreational, sports or fitness activities to ensure safety and provide emergency or first aid assistance when required0.12

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for fitness and recreation instructors and programme leaders. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).