Being human a forever job

CARING and nurturing skills are predicted to have far greater importance than STEM skills for workers of the future. A new report by Dell Technologies has found 85 per cent of the jobs that will exist in 2030 have not been invented yet, causing confusion for those trying to determine a future career path.

However, Rod Crozier, staffing general manager at information and communication technology consultant Ajilon, says it is still possible to train for a “forever job’’ that will be largely unaffected in an increasingly automated world.

He says key to forever jobs are skills in caring, empathy, intuition and innovation — unique people skills that can never be replicated by robots.

“Think carers, teachers, nurses, midwives — how can a robot help [a mother] feed a new baby?” Crozier says.

“A doctor, instead of racking their brain [for a diagnosis] will put in their observations that they can see and get a shortlist of possible scenarios … but they’re still going to be needed to look you in the eye and work out whether you are sick from the symptoms you are talking about, or whether you just want a day off work.’’

He says the skills in high demand today will be of far less importance in the longer term, while the roles now considered low-skilled will become far more valued.

“In the short term, and that’s possibly the next five to 10 years perhaps, STEM [science technology, engineering and mathematics] is definitely the place to be. There’s no doubt about that,’’ Crozier says.

“But ironically, a greater competency in STEM will accelerate change and … we will more quickly arrive at the point where STEM [skills are] not as critical because they’re no longer required.’’

Australian College of Nursing chief executive Kylie Ward believes nursing and other care roles are best for long-term job security.

“There will always be a role for doctors, physios and nurses,’’ she says.

“Only a very small proportion of what they do can ever be replaced by artificial intelligence.

“Human connection can’t be replaced. Patients don’t want to be seen by robots.’’

University midwifery student Shannon Harrison, 35, has seen first-hand the effects of automation and job offshoring.

“Ten years ago, I worked for a big accountancy firm and they were already sending a lot of work off to India to be done,’’ she says.

“But midwifery will always be around — a robot can’t do this job.

“There’s a whole lot of issues surrounding women and babies and their families where you need that personal, human touch.’’