-FUTURE OF WORK-
HOW TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THE FUTURE OF WORK
If you’ve felt anxiety about the future of work, you’re not alone. Automation is growing at a rapid place, and those who can’t keep up are in danger of being left behind. While it’s common to fear that robots are rising up and taking our jobs, we offer some perspective on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it will continue to re-shape the global workforce.
The impact of automation on jobs is nothing new. The industrial revolution that put buggy makers out of business paved the way for the automotive boom of the 20th century, creating millions of new production jobs. That led to a cultural revolution of sorts that diminished our agrarian society as people left their farms and moved to cities for jobs in the new car factories. This in turn created new opportunities for builders, production facilities, and service industries born of the need to accommodate the booming populations. Mass-production also made cars cheaper and more widely available, enabling a new mobility and freedom among all classes of society.
“The industrial revolution changed everything”
SAY HELLO TO THE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION
The next revolution is technical rather than industrial, and it’s been creeping up on us for some time now. Advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence have brought us everything from virtual reality games to virtual assistants and the smartphones that none of us could imaging living without. We’re seeing the first driverless cars and mass transit being tested. Homes and offices can even be programmed to intuitively ‘read’ our comfort level and adjust the temperature and lighting. It’s true that these magical advances in technology will improve human lives in many ways but the downside is the effect it will have on the future of work and human jobs.
WHAT IS AI AND HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE FUTURE OF JOBS
When you imagine AI, science fiction movies about sentient computers running amok or friendly home bots who learn to feel come to mind. While the tech that this type of machine intelligence is based on exists, machines have not yet learned to detect nuance or act of their own accord except within the parameters we set.
AI JUST KEEPS GETTING SMARTER
The goal of AI developers is to change all that. Artificial intelligence is sort of an umbrella term that covers facets of smart automation ranging from big data created to streamline business processes to literal robots programmed to perform a multitude of tasks. The technology allows computers to learn from previous experience and adjust their performance independent of direct human input. The basis of these abilities are rooted in machine-learning technologies and natural language processing, allowing machines to read and process huge blocks of data at previously unheard of speeds and intuitively respond.
“Become a super learner”
THE IMPACT OF AUTOMATION ON THE WAY WE LIVE
Smart technology is everywhere. While it’s growing faster then we realize, the infiltration into our daily lives has been rather subtle. It starts with an upgrade here or there. The latest year’s car model will adjust fuel consumption, steering, and tire pressure according to road or weather conditions, and that’s great; it saves us money on maintenance and makes driving safer. Data mining and analysis conducted while we’re browsing makes it seem like the internet is reading our minds. It anticipates what content we want to see or customizes our shopping experience based on our online history. Chatbots pop up everywhere ready to answer our questions or walk us through whatever business or service they are promoting.
All of these things add to our quality of life, but they won’t bode well for the labor force when technology conveniences them right out of a job. This is not just a problem for the future of work as we already see it happening in the service and manufacturing sectors today. But how many industries will be affected by the rise of technology, and how many workers will be displaced? It may happen slow enough that, most people will be too busy checking their social media accounts and wondering what series to watch next on Netflix, to see it coming.
THE PREDICTIONS DON’T LOOK PRETTY
Based on an evaluation of 800 different occupations, it’s estimated that one-fifth of the global workforce will be displaced by automated technology over the next decade. In the U.S. alone, more than 700,000 jobs could be lost, encompassing 47 percent of the total workforce. The impact will be felt in all world economies, but at different levels that depend on factors like:
Innovation and investment
Government funding
Economic growth
Educational opportunities
Innovation and investment
Government funding
Economic growth
Educational opportunities
“it’s estimated that one-fifth of the global workforce will be displaced by automated technology over the next decade”
THE FIRST TO FALL IN THE WAR ON JOBS
The biggest losses, to begin with, will be in manufacturing, service industries, core business functions, and construction. These trends encompass jobs that require any type of analysis, repetitive actions, or manual labor. Examples of occupations in danger of disappearing are:
Fast food preparation and service
Accounting, financial planning, and insurance underwriting
Data entry and clerical work
Logistics and freight shipping
Photographic processing
Telemarketing
Tailors and seamstresses
Repair work
Transportation
WHICH JOBS WILL MAKE THE CUT IN THE FUTURE OF WORK?
The news isn’t all bad. As with previous revolutions, new career opportunities will be created. Employment forecasts indicate that more than 712,000 new jobs will be created by emerging technologies. In fact, it’s predicted that about 9 percent of occupations that will be common in 2030, don’t even exist today. What kind of careers will survive the robotic revolution? Of course, technology will remain a growth industry. Someone has to build those bots and keep them in line.
ROBOTS AREN’T GREAT AT EVERYTHING
It’s an interesting concept to note that today’s artificial intelligence and robotic technology is able to make the things that humans find difficult (complex computation and large data analysis) look easy. But the flip side is that when it comes to the things that we humans find easy (balance, grip, creativity, empathy) robots are struggling to even get on the same playing field. The reason this seems odd is that we are forgetting about the natural skills that we take for granted and that we have been slowly acquiring over millions of years of evolution. You are not consciously aware of how you dance to music or recognise despair in the face of another person.
“You are not consciously aware of how you dance to music or recognise despair in the face of another person.”
OCCUPATIONS LEAST LIKELY TO BE FULLY AUTOMATED
It is the professions that value these skills that will be the most robot-proof in the future of work. Nearly any patient-centered occupation in the healthcare industry will continue to be in demand. Creative fields, researchers, and supervisory positions will need to be populated with talented, innovative individuals and companies. Areas seemingly safe from full automation will be:
Occupational, recreational, and physical therapists
Elder or child day care workers
Social workers
Mental health and substance abuse counselors
Emergency services managers and first responders
Psychiatrists
Dentists
Occupational, recreational, and physical therapists
Elder or child day care workers
Social workers
Mental health and substance abuse counselors
Emergency services managers and first responders
Psychiatrists
Dentists
Do you notice a common thread in these jobs? They all require a certain level of skill with human interaction and compassion.
If you’re looking for more lucrative jobs in the future of work that are less focused on people skills, you might consider training for a career in:
Computer systems analysis
Robotics engineering
Research and development sciences
Nutrition and wellness services
Real estate development
“Become a super learner to succeed in the future of work”
HOW TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE
AND EMPLOYED IN THE FUTURE OF WORK
Career competitiveness in the future of work will require a combination of foresight and flexibility. Rather than fearing or resenting technology, you should be prepared to embrace it, even master it. It’s also essential to maintain your humanity, which is something that will be needed to balance a tech-centered existence.
Most of the occupations that will be lost are low-skilled jobs for those with little to no higher education or advanced job training. Take stock of your interests and employment goals, and explore opportunities in emerging or growth industries.
If you work for a rather progressive business, there may be opportunities within your current company to train and prepare for the future of work. You could also consider going back to school to obtain an advanced degree. Those STEM degrees that are so in demand today will be even more essential in the future.
STEM fields encompass areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and they’ll be needed in almost every sector. That allows plenty of opportunities to incorporate these skills into an industry that you’re passionate about.
SOFT SKILLS WILL BE KEY IN THE FUTURE OF WORK
Passion and caring are two words that fit into this important skill set. Soft skills are intangible traits that involve a combination of emotional intelligence (EQ), empathy, compassion, and critical thinking. People with highly developed soft skills are great communicators, leaders, and motivators. These are important traits for entering into fields that involve care-taking, medicine, and any other jobs where human interaction is central. Many people are born with natural abilities in these areas, but any of these skills can be honed and developed.
“Train yourself to become more flexible”
BE CREATIVE
This applies not only to creative fields like writing, music, and entertainment, but also to your ability to find creative ways to adapt to a changing global workforce. This is the realm of entrepreneurs, innovators, and philanthropists. When you think about the giants who made the technology of today possible – the Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Elon Musks of the world – you can see that marrying creativity and technology is the wave of the future.
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE
Machines may learn to anticipate our needs or mimic our actions, and do it quite efficiently. They can even outperform us at certain tasks and learn the technical aspects of production. But, there’s one important thing that they are missing: humanity. A computer can find a billion new ways to combine musical notes, but it will never equal the beauty of Mozart. Machine-generated art may look amazing, but it will never fill our souls the way the work of a master can. Robotics will never replace a smile or a warm embrace.
The distinction can be compared to two cooks who use identical ingredients and methods to make a dish. One may be technically competent, but uninspiring to the palate, while the other elevates the culinary experience to levels of the sublime. Two cooks, everything identical down to the plating, yet one is miles above in terms of quality. What’s the difference? Passion. Creativity. Heart.
In short, the things that make us human. These are intangible qualities that no machine will be able to duplicate no matter how well they can outperform us mechanically. It’s these characteristics that will separate the winners and losers in the future of work.
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