Technology’s mixed signals
The rise of the machines has led to jobs disappearing from the workforce but the future remains steady for many occupations.
While automation threatens certain jobs, others will likely survive, reports Cara Jenkin
THE rise of the machines has already led to jobs disappearing from the workforce but the future remains steady for many occupations.
The PwC report, A Smart Move – Future-proofing Australia’s workforce
by growing skills in science, techno
logy, engineering and maths, finds 44 per cent of jobs, or 5.1 million, are at high risk of being affected by computerisation and technology in the next 20 years.
They have a greater than 70 per cent chance of being overtaken by technology, as computers or robots are able to perform simple and routine tasks faster and more accurately than people.
The report lists eight jobs with a greater than 90 per cent probability of being automated – bookkeepers, checkout operators, office administration workers, wood machinists, financial/insurance administration workers, farm/forestry/garden workers, personal assistants and sales administration workers.
These jobs employ a combined 1.1 million people today.
However, twice as many occupations, now employing more than 2 million people, have less than a 10 per cent probability of being automated by 2035, because they require high levels of social and creative intelligence.
“As Australia looks towards new sources of growth in a rapidly changing global economy, we need to start building a workforce fit for the future,” the report states.
“Identifying jobs that have a low risk of being automated is a good place to start.”
On the list of jobs with a low-risk of automation are child carers, engineering professionals and accommodation and hospitality managers.