diff --git a/q2_sample_classifier/classify.py b/q2_sample_classifier/classify.py
index 0e35436..ca449e2 100644
--- a/q2_sample_classifier/classify.py
+++ b/q2_sample_classifier/classify.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 from sklearn.pipeline import Pipeline
 
 import qiime2
+from qiime2.plugin import get_available_cores
 import pandas as pd
 import biom
 import skbio
@@ -107,6 +108,9 @@ def _fit_predict_knn_cv(
         x: pd.DataFrame, y: pd.Series, k: int, cv: int,
         random_state: int, n_jobs: int
 ) -> (pd.Series, pd.Series):
+    if n_jobs == 0:
+        n_jobs = get_available_cores()
+
     kf = KFold(n_splits=cv, shuffle=True, random_state=random_state)
 
     # train and test with CV
@@ -291,6 +295,9 @@ def fit_regressor(table: biom.Table,
 
 
 def predict_base(table, sample_estimator, n_jobs):
+    if n_jobs == 0:
+        n_jobs = get_available_cores()
+
     # extract feature data from biom
     feature_data = _extract_features(table)
     index = table.ids()
diff --git a/q2_sample_classifier/plugin_setup.py b/q2_sample_classifier/plugin_setup.py
index 58a3ad5..6f6c098 100644
--- a/q2_sample_classifier/plugin_setup.py
+++ b/q2_sample_classifier/plugin_setup.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 from qiime2.plugin import (
     Int, Str, Float, Range, Bool, Plugin, Metadata, Choices, MetadataColumn,
-    Numeric, Categorical, Citations, Visualization, TypeMatch)
+    Numeric, Categorical, Citations, Visualization, TypeMatch, Threads)
 from q2_types.feature_table import (
     FeatureTable, Frequency, RelativeFrequency, PresenceAbsence, Balance,
     PercentileNormalized, Design, Composition)
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
 parameters = {
     'base': {
         'random_state': Int,
-        'n_jobs': Int,
+        'n_jobs': Threads,
         'n_estimators': Int % Range(1, None),
         'missing_samples': Str % Choices(['error', 'ignore'])},
     'splitter': {
diff --git a/q2_sample_classifier/utilities.py b/q2_sample_classifier/utilities.py
index 334044c..b224676 100644
--- a/q2_sample_classifier/utilities.py
+++ b/q2_sample_classifier/utilities.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 )
 from sklearn.pipeline import Pipeline
 
+from qiime2.plugin import get_available_cores
 import q2templates
 import pandas as pd
 import numpy as np
@@ -264,6 +265,9 @@ def nested_cross_validation(table, metadata, cv, random_state, n_jobs,
                             n_estimators, estimator, stratify,
                             parameter_tuning, classification, scoring,
                             missing_samples='error'):
+    if n_jobs == 0:
+        n_jobs = get_available_cores()
+
     # extract column name from NumericMetadataColumn
     column = metadata.name
 
@@ -301,6 +305,9 @@ def _fit_estimator(features, targets, estimator, n_estimators=100, step=0.05,
                    cv=5, random_state=None, n_jobs=1,
                    optimize_feature_selection=False, parameter_tuning=False,
                    missing_samples='error', classification=True):
+    if n_jobs == 0:
+        n_jobs = get_available_cores()
+
     # extract column name from CategoricalMetadataColumn
     column = targets.to_series().name