will AI replace paperhangers?

Your job sits in genuinely safe territory. AI doesn't handle any of the core work you do—there's no software automating the physical skill of smoothing paper onto walls, trimming edges with precision, or checking seams for alignment. The 5.3% job growth over the next decade is steady, and you're in a field where demand stays consistent as long as people want their spaces to look finished. What makes you irreplaceable is the hands-on part. Smoothing strips to remove wrinkles and bubbles, marking accurate vertical guidelines with a plumb bob, trimming at ceilings and baseboards without damage, pattern matching across seams—these all require spatial judgment, physical control, and eye for detail that no automation touches. Your ability to assess a wall, correct mistakes mid-job, and deliver work that looks professional is where the real value sits. The role won't transform in any major way. What might shift is how you source work or manage scheduling, but the actual trade remains yours. Stay current with new wallcovering materials and techniques, and you're positioned well.