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Urban planner

Also called city planner, town planner, country planner

Urban planners create development plans for towns, urban areas, cities, and regions. They research the needs of the community or the region (economic, social, transport) and evaluate other parameters such as sustainability in order to present solid programs aimed at the improvement of the site.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects40 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Science and engineering professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Science and engineering professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Science and engineering professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Town and traffic planners · ILO

What you'd do

Town and traffic planners · ILO
  • Planning layout and coordinating development of urban areas
  • Compiling and analysing data on economic, legal, political, cultural, demographic, sociological, physical and environmental factors affecting land use
  • Conferring with government authorities, communities and specialists in fields such as architecture, planning, social science the environment and the law
  • Devising and recommending use and development of land, and presenting narrative and graphic plans, programmes and designs to groups and individuals
  • Advising governments, companies and communities on urban and regional planning issues and proposals
  • Reviewing and evaluating environmental impact reports
  • Planning and coordinating the development of land areas for parks, schools, institutions, airports, roadways and related projects, and for commercial, industrial and residential sites
  • Planning and advising on routing and control of road traffic and public transportation systems for efficiency and safety
Use geographic information systemsMeet building regulationsAdvise on use of landExecute feasibility studyLiaise with local authorities+ 30 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people, including the public
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Varied tasks, little repetition
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Urban and Regional Planners"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as science and engineering professionals in the EU
5.82m7.82m9.03m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
948,000 new jobs 2,300,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Science and engineering professionals40
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of town and traffic planners, 3 a surplus.
Town and traffic planners · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (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 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 law is the usual route.

Highest qualification of science and engineering professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 90%Vocational 6%General secondary 3%Basic schooling 1%
Field that teaches it
Law
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field
Business and law graduates in a matching job
66% in the EU

1,314 institutions in the EU offer business and law 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?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

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

Average task score 0.41 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Planning and advising on routing and control of road traffic and public transportation systems for efficiency and safety0.51
Compiling and analysing data on economic, legal, political, cultural, demographic, sociological, physical and environmental factors affecting land use0.44
Reviewing and evaluating environmental impact reports0.42
Advising governments, companies and communities on urban and regional planning issues and proposals0.42
Devising and recommending use and development of land, and presenting narrative and graphic plans, programmes and designs to groups and individuals0.41
Planning layout and coordinating development of urban areas0.39
Planning and coordinating the development of land areas for parks, schools, institutions, airports, roadways and related projects, and for commercial, industrial and residential sites0.34
Conferring with government authorities, communities and specialists in fields such as architecture, planning, social science the environment and the law0.33

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 town and traffic planners. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).