Earlier this year, The Economist and The Atlantic published reports arguing that increasing automation, computerisation and artificial intelligence could place at risk half of current jobs in the United States within a decade or two.
Both publications argued that routine-based jobs or jobs that can be solved by smart algorithms are most at risk, whereas those jobs requiring high levels of critical thought and analysis are relatively safe.
Most in the firing line are manufacturing, administrative support, retail, and transportation workers, who will continue to lose workers to automation – as has been the case for decades. However, cashiers, counter clerks, and telemarketers are equally endangered.
Last month, Business Spectator’s Paul Wallbank reported how the Associated Press had announced that it was replacing business journalists with computer programs, following sports reporting where algorithms have delivering match reports for some years. He also noted that “for lawyers, accountants, and armies of form processing public servants, computers are already threatening jobs” and that “as with journalism, things are about to get much worse in those fields, as mining workers are finding with automated mine trucks taking high-paid jobs”.
Today, we witness another iteration in this process, with Telstra’s David Thodey claiming that call centre jobs across a range of sectors will not exist in five years due to the internet and smartphone applications. From The AFR:
“More and more you’ll use an application on your phone and you’ll use the web to interact with us, so the future of call centre jobs is less in the future,” he said. “In reality… these jobs will not exist in five years.
“If you think about how you interact with the bank today you don’t go into the bank branch that often. And that’s going to be the truth about many of the traditional service-related jobs – it’s going to be more and more digitally done”…
Telstra made 1600 positions redundant in the 12 months ending June 30, 2014.
As noted previously, if you are young person seeking a career, you would be well advised to begin looking at these new trends and considering moving into fields that are less likely to be impacted by robotics and automation. Start with the below lists from The Economist and The Atlantic and then hope that there are no further technological breakthroughs that make your chosen vocation redundant!
