For many years we have accepted that machines can be trusted to do things for us. Technically robots are automatic motorised tools. So, why distrust them now?

Will robots change our work in the future? Strange to ask this question as robots have been with us for a long time. Technically robots are automatic motorised tools. For many years we have accepted that machines can be trusted to do things for us. They record our shows, cook our food and even play our music. We just don’t realise it because these “robots” don’t have a face we can talk to.

The debate over how robots could affect employment has been going on for many decades. On the one side, we have the group who says that robots will steal our jobs, make us their slaves and then kill us. Others believe robots are the key to ultimate freedom from work we find dull or dangerous.

While technology is both real and important, the future of jobs overall isn’t nearly as gloomy as many believe. It is true that many jobs will disappear. It is estimated that almost five million jobs in the world’s leading economies could disappear over the next five years owing to advances in technology. However, there is another side to the story, namely that automation will spur the growth of many new jobs. But the largest single effect will be job transformation: Humans will find themselves working alongside robots.

It must be remembered that robots are good at precise actions but they are less good at sophisticated tasks. One important change in the future will be the nature of human jobs. People’s jobs will be superior, requiring a higher knowledge ability, and humans will have mainly supervising positions. This will lead to a shift in the core skillset while robots will take on the mundane jobs.

What does this revolution mean for the future of work and your career? The only certainty ahead for today’s younger generation is to realise that the world of work is changing. The key to thriving in the 21st century is for companies to have employees who can learn and adapt quickly, making sense of the opportunities and challenges ahead. Employees should be able to learn something, then unlearn it when circumstances change and relearn something new. Preparing young people for their first job is no longer enough; they must develop the skills to ensure lifelong success. Therefore the focus in education, both at school and in tertiary institutions, should be on innovation, producing graduates who can continuously learn and innovate. Learning experiences need to be flexible, accessible and personalised.

However, it is not only a challenge for those at the start of their working lives. People at all stages of their careers will find that they need to adapt as jobs change, disappear or evolve. It is each employee’s responsibility to ensure he or she is tech-savvy and has a willingness to use technology to complement and enhance his or her effectiveness.

To prepare for the future workplace, employees can take note of the following advice:

    • Get along with anyone. The workforce of tomorrow will be more multi-generational, more multi-cultural and women will play a bigger role.
    • Discover the secrets of success. Competition is stronger and therefore it will be necessary to make sure you know why other countries, organisations or people are achieving success.
    • Know your “enemy”. Rather than worrying about robots taking your job, how about getting to know them a little better? As more of us work alongside robots, knowing more about autonomous systems will be helpful for many careers.
    • Ask where things come from. Globalisation and technological change mean that every business is increasingly sourcing from and selling to suppliers and customers worldwide. Understanding the supply chains that underpin these interactions will be a vital skill in the next 10 years.
    • Love to learn. Being able to adapt – to continually learn the skills to succeed in business – is a must.

Robots won’t just change our lives in the future, they’ll expand them. Not just for fun, but of necessity. We have taken the first steps into welcoming them into our homes, now it is time to get ready for the next step.

 

Sources

 

http://www.mindfood.com/article/fresh-thinking-%E2%80%A8for-future-success/
http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/rise-robots-will-affect-job/future-business/article/1397321
http://uk.businessinsider.com/sc/how-robots-will-affect-the-workplace-2016-9/?IR=T
http://www.inc.com/will-yakowicz/robots-replacing-dirty-dangerous-jobs-is-good.html
http://time.com/4277517/grappling-with-the-right-role-for-robots-at-work/
https://about.futurelearn.com/blog/prepare-for-the-workplace-of-2026/