Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers
Every task in this role, whether it passes the census's structural hand-over screen, which models pass it, and why. It is a screen, not a claim about what AI can do: a task can pass and still be beyond the systems of the day. The stricter and looser rules re-vote every task, and small differences between roles are noise.
Passes the screen · 1 of 12 tasks
Write and record orders for merchandise or enter orders into computers.
quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 8.7% of the role's time · $4.0M · all three pass it
Does not pass
Answer questions about product features and benefits.
reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 14.1% of the role's time · $6.4M · waiting on a check
Explain products or services and prices and demonstrate use of products.
physical work, outside the screen · 13.3% of the role's time · $6.1M
Deliver merchandise and collect payment.
physical work, outside the screen · 10.5% of the role's time · $4.8M
Distribute product samples or literature that details products or services.
physical work, outside the screen · 10.5% of the role's time · $4.8M
Persuade customers to purchase merchandise or services.
reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 9.9% of the role's time · $4.5M · passed by Claude Sonnet · the models disagreed · waiting on a check
Circulate among potential customers or travel by foot, truck, automobile, or bicycle to deliver or sell merchandise or services.
physical work, outside the screen · 9.6% of the role's time · $4.4M
Develop prospect lists.
reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 8.2% of the role's time · $3.7M
Arrange buying parties and solicit sponsorship of such parties to sell merchandise.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 5.0% of the role's time · $2.3M
Order or purchase supplies.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked · 4.7% of the role's time · $2.1M · passed by Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed
Set up and display sample merchandise at parties or stands.
physical work, outside the screen · 3.9% of the role's time · $1.8M
Stock carts or stands.
physical work, outside the screen · 1.8% of the role's time · $836k
Where this role works
| Industry | Workers | Wage bill | Passes the screen | All three pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Finishing Contractors | 480 | $15.5M | $1.3M | $1.3M |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 300 | $13.0M | $1.1M | $1.1M |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | 180 | $8.9M | $771k | $771k |
| Residential Building Construction | 190 | $6.9M | $602k | $602k |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | 50 | $1.3M | $113k | $113k |