Occupation intelligence

Assistant Outdoor Animator

Key facts

Assistant outdoor animators assist in planning outdoor activities, outdoor risk assessment and equipment monitoring. They manage the outdoor resources and groups. Assistant outdoor animators may help with office administration and maintenance hence they may work indoors.

Labour market
More candidates than openings in Austria and 5 more countries
ELA/EURES 2025
Industry
Hospitality, Events, & Tourism
Education
Short-cycle tertiary education
52%
Resilience Score · 2026 (Higher is better)
Short-cycle tertiary education 36% AI exposure · 2026
Labour market

Where this occupation is in demand

Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.

Figures cover Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals — 108 jobs including this one.

4 of 10 in shortage202522 of 28 growing2.5Mopenings to 2035

In shortage: Finland, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands.

Longest-running shortage: Italy, 3 years.

Select a place on the map to see its figures.

About this source›

Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.

What these words mean

The four things this section reports

Reported demand
Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
Where it is heading
Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
Openings
Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
Typical pay
What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.

A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.

Which way the market leans for you

In your favour
More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
Balanced
Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
Competitive
More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
Mixed evidence
Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.

Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.

How this job compares with other jobs in the same country

Strong
Among the strongest in that country
Good
Stronger than most jobs in that country
Mixed
About typical for that country
Weak
Weaker than most jobs in that country

This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.

Where these come from

Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.

None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.

Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta)
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading
Reported demand Typical pay Where it is heading
United States Not reported $36,560 2025-05 +4.1% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034
Ireland Not reported — +21.6% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 *
Australia Shortage reported Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * — —
Malta Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * — —

* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)

Do you guide students, clients or employees? Use this occupation data in your organisation.

NexFuture™

Future Outlook for assistant outdoor animator

The outlook for assistant outdoor animator reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.

How are these scores calculated?

The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.

Play the future
How could assistant outdoor animator change as AI adoption grows?

This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.

Significant task-level transformation is estimated in 15 years (around 2041) under the selected Expected Pace scenario.
~50%
Resilience
Automation Risk
EXP~40%
Human advantage
MOAT~55%

Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.

2026
2034
2046
AI Adoption Speed:

Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.

How AI may change this role

Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.

52% Human-owned

What still depends on people

  • manage groups outdoors
  • give feedback on changing circumstances
  • manage feedback
The Human Edge To stay ahead in this role, focus on assess risk in the outdoors and implement risk management for outdoors. These human-centric skills are the hardest for AI to replicate in the next 20 years.
23% Assist

Where AI may become a co-pilot

  • assess risk in the outdoors
  • implement risk management for outdoors
  • research areas for outdoor activity
36% Automate

Tasks most exposed to automation

  • evaluate outdoor activities
  • structure information
Detailed Analysis

Vital Signs & AI Vectors

AI Exposure Vectors

0-100%
AI / Machine Learning 23%

Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks

Generative AI 8%

Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools

Robotic & Physical Automation 0%

Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement

Cognitive Software 0%

Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation

Technical Details
Methodology: NexFuture v3.0 Sources: O*NET® 30.3, ESCO v1.2.1 Updated: Oct 2026

NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.

Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.

Day in the life

What people in this role usually do

Hospitality, Events, & Tourism

Day in the life

A typical day as an assistant outdoor animator

09
09:00 · Morning
assess risk in the outdoors
Elaborate and accomplish risk analysis for outdoor activities.
10
10:30 · Mid-morning
animate in the outdoors
Independently animate groups in the outdoors, adapting your practice to keep the group animated and motivated.
12
12:00 · Midday
communicate in an outdoor setting
Communicate with participants in more than one language of the European Union; handle a crisis following guidelines and recognise the importance of proper behaviour in crisis situations.
14
14:00 · Afternoon
empathise with outdoor groups
Identify the outdoor activities permitted or suited in an outdoor setting based on the group's needs.
15
15:30 · Late afternoon
give feedback on changing circumstances
Respond appropriately to changing circumstances in an activity session.
17
17:00 · Wrap-up
evaluate outdoor activities
Identify and report problems and incidents according to outdoor programme safety national and local regulations.

Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.

Skills & knowledge

What you need to do this work

The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.

Essential skills
performing risk analysis and management
  • assess risk in the outdoors

    Elaborate and accomplish risk analysis for outdoor activities.

  • implement risk management for outdoors

    Devise and demonstrate the application of responsible and safe practices for the outdoor sector.

giving feedback
  • give feedback on changing circumstances

    Respond appropriately to changing circumstances in an activity session.

monitoring and evaluating the performance of individuals
  • empathise with outdoor groups

    Identify the outdoor activities permitted or suited in an outdoor setting based on the group's needs.

following instructions and procedures
  • manage feedback

    Provide feedback to others. Evaluate and respond constructively and professionally to critical communication from colleagues and customers.

accompanying and welcoming people
  • manage groups outdoors

    Conduct outdoor sessions in a dynamic and active way

maintaining operational records
  • evaluate outdoor activities

    Identify and report problems and incidents according to outdoor programme safety national and local regulations.

conducting academic or market research
  • research areas for outdoor activity

    Study the area where outdoor activities are going to take place, taking into account the culture and history of the working place and the equipment required to develop the activities.

developing solutions
  • react acordingly to unexpected events outdoors

    Detect and respond to the environment changing conditions and their effect on human psychology and behaviour.

conducting gaming activities
  • animate in the outdoors

    Independently animate groups in the outdoors, adapting your practice to keep the group animated and motivated.

communicating with colleagues and clients
  • communicate in an outdoor setting

    Communicate with participants in more than one language of the European Union; handle a crisis following guidelines and recognise the importance of proper behaviour in crisis situations.

Knowledge areas & Software & Technologies
Software & Technologies
Microsoft PublisherYouTubeScheduling softwareMicrosoft Internet ExplorerGroupMeDesktop publishing softwareRecordkeeping softwareAppletreeCharting software
Key traits you need
Self-Control Integrity Cooperation Concern for Others Dependability Leadership Attention to Detail Independence Stress Tolerance Adaptability/Flexibility Initiative Social Orientation Persistence Achievement/Effort Innovation Analytical Thinking
Key rewards you can expect
AchievementWorking Condit…RecognitionRelationshipsSupportIndependence
How to qualify

Path to become an assistant outdoor animator

What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.

Typical education level

Short-cycle tertiary education

Official qualification in Flanders

The closest officially recognised professional qualification in the Flemish qualification structure:

  • Assistent outdoor animator Flemish level 4

A closest match, not an exact equivalent: a qualification is often narrower than the occupation. Source: AHOVOKS, Flemish government (Kwalificatiedatabank), reused under the Flemish Open Licence for free reuse.

Where to study

82 programmes in 15 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 20 short courses that build single skills.

A few examples, taught in the language of this page:

Vocational Outdoor Education - Traineeship

City of Dublin FET College Dhúlaigh · Ireland

Degree 스포츠아웃도어학과

Sports Outdoor Studies

EULJI UNIVERSITY(Uijeongbu) · South Korea

Vocational Adventure Education - Outdoor Sport & Recreation

Cork College of FET - Kinsale · Ireland

Degree

Bachelor of Outdoor and Environmental Education

Federation University Australia · Australia

Short course

Diploma in Outdoor Education

Republic Polytechnic · Singapore

Sources
  1. 1. Source: Study with New Zealand (studywithnewzealand.govt.nz), Education New Zealand. Copyright in the material is owned by Education New Zealand (All content (c) Education New Zealand). Listings are provided by the education providers, are for information and promotional purposes only, and are not endorsed by Education New Zealand; each provider is responsible for its own content.
  2. 2. Irish course data from Qualifax (qualifax.ie), run by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
  3. 3. Source: Study in Korea, National Institute for International Education (NIIED) (studyinkorea.go.kr).
  4. 4. Source: Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Education), CRICOS, data.gov.au, CC BY 2.5 AU. Data as at 30/09/2026. Adapted by NexPath.
  5. 5. Contains information from MySkillsFuture Course Run accessed on 2026-09-28 from data.gov.sg which is made available under the terms of the Singapore Open Data Licence version 1.0 (https://data.gov.sg/open-data-licence)
Career progression

Growth Pathways & Similar Roles

Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.

For organisations

The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What kind of outdoor activities might I be involved in as an assistant outdoor animator?
The activities vary greatly depending on the employer. You could be assisting with hiking, climbing, water sports, team-building games, nature walks, or even educational programs focused on the environment.
What skills are particularly important for this role?
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, excellent communication abilities, and a proactive approach to problem-solving are essential. Physical fitness and a comfort level with being outdoors in various weather conditions are also key.
Is this role typically a full-time position, or are freelance opportunities common?
This occupation is primarily employee-based, with most assistant outdoor animators working as part of a team for organizations like outdoor activity centers, resorts, or educational institutions. However, freelancing is also a common arrangement, particularly for seasonal events or short-term projects.
How much does Assistant Outdoor Animator pay in the United States?
$35,380 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $22,210 to $46,460. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.

Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 19, 2026 About our data