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Chaplain

Also called imam, rabbi, prison chaplain

Chaplains perform religious activities in secular institutions. They perform counselling services and provide spiritual and emotional support to the people in the institution, as well as cooperate with priests or other religious officials to support religious activities in the community.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects33 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €1,800 (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Religious professionals · ILO

What you'd do

Religious professionals · ILO
  • Perpetuating sacred traditions, practices and beliefs
  • Conducting religious services, rites and ceremonies
  • Undertaking various administrative and social duties, including participating in committees and meetings of religious organizations
  • Providing spiritual and moral guidance in accordance with the religion professed
  • Propagating religious doctrines in own country or abroad
  • Preparing and presenting religious sermons
  • Developing and directing study courses and religious education programmes
  • Counselling individuals regarding interpersonal, health, financial, and religious problems
  • Scheduling and participating in special events such as camps, conferences, seminars, and retreats
Provide social counsellingProvide spiritual counsellingReinforce positive behaviourInterpret religious textsPerform religious ceremonies+ 4 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Constant 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 US job "Clergy"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as legal, social and cultural professionals in the EU
5.41m6.54m7.02m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
354,000 new jobs 1,872,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Legal, social and cultural professionals33
All jobs29
Right now
1 of 27 countries report a shortage of religious professionals, 5 a surplus.
Religious professionals · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,800 a month (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (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 professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in religion and theology is the usual route.

Highest qualification of legal, social and cultural professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 87%Vocational 6%General secondary 5%Basic schooling 2%
Fields that teach it
Religion and theology · Psychology
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field
Arts and humanities graduates in a matching job
52% in the EU

1,154 institutions in the EU offer arts and humanities 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 0.17 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
Scheduling and participating in special events such as camps, conferences, seminars, and retreats0.39
Counselling individuals regarding interpersonal, health, financial, and religious problems0.27
Undertaking various administrative and social duties, including participating in committees and meetings of religious organizations0.26
Preparing and presenting religious sermons0.18
Developing and directing study courses and religious education programmes0.15
Propagating religious doctrines in own country or abroad0.08
Providing spiritual and moral guidance in accordance with the religion professed0.06
Conducting religious services, rites and ceremonies0.06
Perpetuating sacred traditions, practices and beliefs0.05

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 religious professionals. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).