When it comes to robotisation, people often talk about the potential job losses. The arrival of robots would put millions of jobs at risk. However, the World Economic Forum (WEF) argues that robotisation is actually also creating a lot of jobs.
Over the next five years, robotisation will create net jobs worldwide, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). Some 75 million jobs could disappear through 2022, but 133 million jobs would also be created. Especially in the industries of accountancy, manufacturing, customer management and secretarial services, a lot of work will be automated. On the other hand, jobs in areas such as data analysis, software applications and online sales are increasing. Jobs are also likely to grow in other sectors where human competences are important, such as marketing or sales.
Retraining
WEF indicates in its report that the estimates have been made cautiously. Moreover, robotisation should be handled alertly. Employers, workers and governments need to work better together to prevent many job losses. In particular, companies must ensure that staff are retrained and retrained in a timely manner so that they acquire new skills associated with the new technologies. By 2022, some 54 per cent of the current workforce would need to learn new skills. About 35 per cent of workers will need additional training for six months, and 9 per cent will need to go back to school between six and 12 months. Another 10 per cent will need even more than a year of training.
According to the report's authors, around 52 per cent of all current work will be replaced by machines by 2025. Currently, they put that percentage at 29 per cent.
Recently, a survey on the occasion of Industry Day showed that more than 90% of Dutch industrial companies are positive about the changes that digitalisation and robotisation are bringing. More than half (53%) expect the character of work to change, but employment to remain the same. One in five even thinks it will increase employment.
Source: WEF/Koninklijke Metaalunie.
Photo: Techniek Beeldbank
