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Carriage driver

Also called coachman, coachwoman, fiacre driver

Carriage drivers tranport passengers in horse-drawn carriages. They ensure passengers' safety and care for the horses.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects28 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transportWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €800 (Bulgaria) to €4,300 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transportWhat do I need to study?Basic schooling4 in 10 have basic schooling only.Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transportWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Drivers of animal-drawn vehicles and machinery · ILO

What you'd do

Drivers of animal-drawn vehicles and machinery · ILO
  • Harnessing animals and hitching them to vehicles or machinery
  • Loading or unloading goods, or assisting passengers in getting on or off a vehicle
  • Driving animals in the desired direction with due regard to other traffic and traffic regulations
  • Collecting fares or charges
  • Driving animals to haul wagons in mines or quarries
  • Driving animals hitched to farm or other machinery
  • Driving working elephants
  • Maintaining vehicle or machinery, making minor repairs and installing replacement parts
  • Grooming and feeding animals
Obey traffic rulesDrive carriageHarness horses to carriageAssist passengersEnsure passenger comfort+ 3 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Mostly outdoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the related, broader US job "Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport in the EU
4.98m5.67m5.76m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
88,000 new jobs 1,502,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport28
All jobs29
Right now
6 of 27 countries report a shortage of drivers of animal-drawn vehicles and machinery, 4 a surplus.
Drivers of animal-drawn vehicles and machinery · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €800 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,300 (Denmark), 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 elementary occupations in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Elementary occupations · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Basic schooling

Most people start with basic schooling and learn on the job.

Highest qualification of labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport (EU, 2025)
Degree 8%Vocational 36%General secondary 13%Basic schooling 42%

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 0.13 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 9 tasks
Collecting fares or charges0.33
Driving animals in the desired direction with due regard to other traffic and traffic regulations0.16
Maintaining vehicle or machinery, making minor repairs and installing replacement parts0.15
Loading or unloading goods, or assisting passengers in getting on or off a vehicle0.14
Grooming and feeding animals0.14
Driving animals hitched to farm or other machinery0.10
Driving working elephants0.08
Harnessing animals and hitching them to vehicles or machinery0.06
Driving animals to haul wagons in mines or quarries0.05

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 drivers of animal-drawn vehicles and machinery. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).