The Impact of Automation on Employment

Automation has had a significant impact on employment in recent years, and the effects are only expected to increase in the future. Automation can lead to job losses in certain industries, but it can also create new opportunities in other areas. It’s important to consider the ways that automation is changing the job market, and how we can adapt to these changes.

For the last thirty years at the very least, and possibly longer depending on the movies we've seen, we've been hearing tales of the impending collapse of the human workforce. It is already well known to you. Our jobs will eventually be taken over by robots. At some time, artificial intelligence (AI) will become self-sufficient, and since we are all going to die eventually, we won't need jobs. 

The problem is that a lot of what was predicted has not materialized, much like we were meant to have flying automobiles by now.

Employers should anticipate to rely more on computers to do jobs that are presently completed by people. Roughly 50% of all staff jobs could be automated using today's technology. Robots will undoubtedly be used in the workplace more and more in the future because they are typically less expensive, less prone to error, and more skilled in some areas than human workers.

The New Automation

The “new automation” of the coming decades, with much more advanced robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), will broaden the range of tasks and jobs that machines can perform. AI has the potential for significantly more worker dislocation and inequality than in prior eras of automation. This has the potential to affect college graduates and professionals far more severely than in the past. Indeed, new automation will result in the loss of millions of jobs for vehicle drivers and retail workers, as well as healthcare workers, lawyers, accountants, finance specialists, and a variety of other professionals.

Due to improved worker productivity, AI will both worsen the problems that many workers will confront as a result of automation and raise living standards. At the same time, a far more comprehensive set of governmental measures will be needed to guarantee that workers can adjust and that the advantages of automation are distributed widely.

Which Jobs are Robots likely to replace?

Even as tasks become increasingly mechanized, many jobs will continue to exist. A McKinsey analysis predicts that less than 5% of occupations will likely be replaced by robotics and other computers. 

Instead, computers will take over certain duties that people cannot perform as well or as cheaply. Examples include manual labor, machine operation, predictable or repetitive activity, and data processing and collection. AI is changing several sectors of the economy, including healthcare, where it will have a big impact on job opportunities.

Some of the jobs completed by people at all educational levels and career stages will be replaced by computers. However, certain industries will be more affected by these developments than others. There will probably be a noticeable rise in the number of automated workers in the following industries:

CONSTRUCTION

The demand for new buildings, better roads, and other infrastructure development is good news for the construction industry. On the other hand, some construction tasks are best suited for robots; these include any repetitive physical labor, like operating construction equipment, demolishing buildings, and installing and repairing basic materials. On the other hand, jobs and tasks requiring more expertise, like complex installations and repairs, as well as managing construction sites, are unlikely to be replaced by robots anytime soon.

FOOD SERVICE

The food service business is already experiencing an increase in automation. This is particularly valid in fast-food establishments, where efficiency and speed are usually given priority. Consumers can place orders and make payments using computers. Additionally, they are capable of performing simple, repetitive culinary duties like food preparation and dishwashing. 

People will still work in food service positions that need interpersonal skills and inventiveness, including chefs and cooks, especially at fine dining establishments. There will always be a need for actual individuals with excellent supervision skills in management roles.

MANUFACTURING

For decades, robots have been present in manufacturing, led by the automotive industry. That presence is rapidly expanding as technology advances and robotics costs fall. Many manufacturing jobs (including assembler, fabricator, machinist, and others) entail performing repetitive, predictable tasks. Machines are already taking over at least some of these jobs, and this trend is expected to continue.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Office administration is another field that is being impacted by automation. Tasks such as scheduling, data entry, and customer service are being taken over by automated systems. While this may reduce the number of administrative assistants needed, it can also free up these workers to focus on more complex tasks that require human intelligence.

RETAIL

Retail is another industry that is being transformed by automation. Self-checkout kiosks, online ordering systems, and inventory management software are all examples of technologies that are replacing human workers. On the other hand, automation can also create new jobs in retail, such as e-commerce, delivery services, bank tellers, insurance underwriters, and others, are likely to be increasingly replaced by computers.

WHICH JOBS ARE SAFE?

Computers are yet unable to fully mimic some tasks. For example, computers are not able to communicate with people or show empathy in the same manner that humans do. Therefore, occupations involving providing care for others like those of nurses, psychologists, educators, and social workers are typically immune to automation. 

It is doubtful that any job requiring direct management of others will be automated. This is because, at least for the time being, computers and robots lack the emotional intelligence and other qualities necessary to supervise people. Creative jobs like writing, painting, and graphic design are less likely to be automated.

Even roles that involve managing teams or client interactions, which may include using tools like a Call Recorder for iPhone  for tracking conversations and improving communication, are less susceptible to automation. Such apps help in maintaining accurate records of discussions, but they cannot replace the nuanced understanding and personal touch that human supervisors provide.

It is less likely that any job requiring a high level of education or experience will be mechanized. But remember that in each of these positions, there might still be certain work that can be automated. For example, the human touch of nurses and doctors will always be crucial, but computers may

LIMITATIONS OF AUTOMATION

Aside from repetitive and predictable tasks, a human counterpart will be a formidable competitor for a robot. There are several limitations to automation that should be considered:

SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE

Artificial intelligence (AI) is still in its infancy and is unable to grasp social intelligence features like caring, persuading, and negotiating, despite advances in emotional computing (Gossett, S., 2020). Research on emotional computing, emotion AI, social robots, and related fields is still in its infancy despite recent advancements.

Only basic, stark emotional patterns may be recognized by AI with the aid of natural language processing, sentiment analysis, voice emotion, and facial movement analysis studies. They still can't tell the difference between sarcasm and comedy in speech tonality, or use face recognition to discern between a smirk and a smile. Moreover, it is frightening to consider that machines are trained to identify emotions but not to experience them. That is, unlike science fiction (Data from Star Trek, Ash from Alien, the Architect from Matrix, and, of course, the Terminator), our science is not yet ready to endow machines with empathy.

CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE

Creative intelligence, also known as “CQ”, is a term used to describe the unique qualities of human thought that machines cannot replicate. These qualities include the ability to be creative, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent. CQ is considered to be a key factor in many jobs that are not easily replaced by automation. Humans are struggling to comprehend the science of creativity. Much less, machines, as a result, robots cannot yet take over a job that requires creativity.

The pattern in creativity is so vague that explaining it is at best simplistic (right brain hemisphere for creative, left hemisphere for analytics). Attempts are being made, however, to define the physiological aspects of creativity. According to a Scientific American article, creative people appear to have fewer connections between their right and left brain hemispheres. These shorter corpus callosum connections are thought to give the person more time to develop ideas.

Both psychology and biology play a part in creativity, with nurture rather than nature being the dominant factor. Creating an atmosphere that supports creativity learning is often the focus of science-backed recommendations on how to support a child's creativity. Research indicates that a child's ability to be creative can be shaped by several external variables such as viewing imaginative movies, learning from parents, and interacting with others. It is still decades away from being possible to teach a machine this human talent, so creators and all those involved in creative work can exhale with relief.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AUTOMATION?

There are several things that individuals can do to prepare for the impact of automation. Don’t let this information frighten you or cause you to abandon your job. In an increasingly automated world, there are numerous steps you can take to ensure job security.

Learn new skills: Take the time to learn skills that robots cannot. Improve your problem-solving abilities, management skills, creativity, and emotional intelligence. If you can highlight these abilities, you will be an invaluable member of any team (and an employee not easily replaced by a computer).

Acquire knowledge:  This saying that say, if you think education is expensive try ignorance. Seeing yourself scaling through an automation world is require knowledge, and research. Jobs that require further education are less likely to be replaced by robots, in part because teaching all of that information to a computer would take too much time and energy. Returning to school to specialize in a topic related to your job is an excellent way to make yourself indispensable. Consider changing careers without returning to school or finding a short-term training program to broaden your skill set.

Practice adaptability: Even though a robot won't steal your job, your everyday duties can. Show your company that you are flexible, adaptive, and ready to learn new skills and take on new tasks. In the future, you will likely work with more computers and robots than you do now. If you can readily and honestly adjust to this evolving workforce, employers will be impressed.

 Work together with robots: There will be more work options as automation increases. For example, people will need to design, construct, debug, and oversee computers in the workplace. If you have an interest in computers and robotics, think about a job where you would work with them.

Conclusion 

Keep in mind that some reports claim that most jobs will not be lost to robots, but that many tasks will change. As a result, don’t freak out. There is no reason to leave your current job because you are afraid of being replaced by a machine. Instead, concentrate on doing your best work, being adaptable and open-minded, and continuing to develop your skills to remain relevance in the job market.