Rise of the Robots Will Eliminate More Than 5 Million Jobs

WEF report says administrative and office roles are at risk Davos meetings to focus on technology and labor markets

Over five million jobs will be lost by 2020 as a result of developments in genetics, artificial intelligence, robotics and other technological change, according to World Economic Forum research.

About 7 million jobs will be lost and 2 million gained as a result of technological change in 15 major developed and emerging economies, WEF founder Klaus Schwab and managing board member Richard Samans said in "The Future of Jobs." The findings are taken from a survey of 15 economies covering about 1.9 billion workers, or about 65 percent of the world’s total workforce.

"The Future of Jobs."

To find out what new jobs are going to be available, you can read here: The Future of Jobs Employment, Skills and Workforce Strategy for the
Fourth Industrial Revolution.

www3.weforum.org...

The blurred lines between physical, digital and biological spheres amount to a Fourth Industrial Revolution, according to the WEF, which will address the idea as the ideaat its annual meeting of policy makers, academics and economists in Davos, Switzerland. It’s already a hot topic thanks in part to books such as ‘The Second Machine Age’ and ‘The Rise of The Robots,’ while Bank of England Chief Economist Andy Haldane has warned that the millions of jobs at risk from automation are creating issues officials need to address.

"To prevent a worst-case scenario -- technological change accompanied by talent shortages, mass unemployment and growing inequality -- reskilling and upskilling of today’s workers will be critical," the authors said. "It is simply not possible to weather the current technological revolution by waiting for the next generation’s workforce to become better prepared."

Jobs Warning

Administrative and office jobs will account for two-thirds of the losses, with "routine white-collar office functions at risk of being decimated," and there will be gains in computer, mathematical, architecture and engineering-related fields. Women will be disproportionately hit by the changes because of their low participation in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The countries covered by the survey included Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S.

"It is critical that businesses take an active role in supporting their current workforces through re-training, that individuals take a proactive approach to their own lifelong learning and that governments create the enabling environment, rapidly and creatively, to assist these efforts," the authors said.

www.bloomberg.com...

We are now entering in a new Fourth Industrial Revolution. If you are thinking about going to collage for a career, or career change, or perhaps your kids want to go to collage, I would suggest to go to the first link in my post this will give you an idea to what will be in demand.

The world industries are going through major changes right now.

Considering the world population, 5 million job lost to robots is really nothing to worry about.

So ATS what is your opinions that robots are definitely going to replace many jobs in the work force?

a reply to: Informer1958

Robot programming.

It's the only job of the future as humans are replaced by machines.

The real need is to replace our emphasis on work to eat.
Money should be mostly eliminated for the masses and a new standard of human behavior erected.
Education should be free to anyone who can qualify for further training....
Medicare, should be universal and free as well.....
Capitalism needs to be reprogrammed or dispensed with.....

a reply to: onequestion

Robot programming.

It's the only job of the future as humans are replaced by machines.

The first thing I was thinking was, how industries were going to save money on labor cost. More profits.

No $ 15.00 hour.

a reply to: bandersnatch

The real need is to replace our emphasis on work to eat.
Money should be mostly eliminated for the masses and a new standard of human behavior erected.
Education should be free to anyone who can qualify for further training....
Medicare, should be universal and free as well.....
Capitalism needs to be reprogrammed or dispensed with.....

Actually, I like that idea.

I would add that housing should be free as well. If humans did not have to struggle for basic needs, I really believe they would put more time and effort into a career.

Those people who chose not to work, would be ostracized by the communities. Just an idea.

Perhaps more "opportunities" in law enforcement.

Governments are going to need more sooner than later.

a reply to: bandersnatch

Capitalism needs to be reprogrammed or dispensed with.....

I can't help but think this sentiment was popular during the Industrial Revolution.

Problem is, ingenuity will always prevail and new jobs will always be created with every new innovation. Society functions because people exist. If there are no people so support a new innovation, it fails.

That is why capitalism will always beat socialism, until we've reached 'peak populace'. Then, socialism will become the norm.

originally posted by: ghostrager
a reply to: bandersnatch

Capitalism needs to be reprogrammed or dispensed with.....

I can't help but think this sentiment was popular during the Industrial Revolution.

Problem is, ingenuity will always prevail and new jobs will always be created with every new innovation. Society functions because people exist. If there are no people so support a new innovation, it fails.

That is why capitalism will always beat socialism, until we've reached 'peak populace'. Then, socialism will become the norm.

Capitalism will not always beat Socialism. There is always a joining of the two. They cannot work separately. Possibly after 50 years or more, socialism will have a greater percentile, but I don;t see it working alone.

originally posted by: Informer1958

WEF report says administrative and office roles are at risk Davos meetings to focus on technology and labor markets

Over five million jobs will be lost by 2020 as a result of developments in genetics, artificial intelligence, robotics and other technological change, according to World Economic Forum research.

What you say is all true. Many jobs will be replaced by robots. It's not a surprise. I am not sure if Customer Service can ever completely be replaced by robots, no one likes the 'chat online' bots now. Unless they get 100x better, people will still be pressing 0 in the end.

But there will always be humans needed for innovation and overseeing and it creates new and different jobs.

5 mill jobs are really not a massive amount, especially in the US and the innovation will create more.

originally posted by: Informer1958
a reply to: bandersnatch

The real need is to replace our emphasis on work to eat.
Money should be mostly eliminated for the masses and a new standard of human behavior erected.
Education should be free to anyone who can qualify for further training....
Medicare, should be universal and free as well.....
Capitalism needs to be reprogrammed or dispensed with.....

Actually, I like that idea.

I would add that housing should be free as well. If humans did not have to struggle for basic needs, I really believe they would put more time and effort into a career.

Those people who chose not to work, would be ostracized by the communities. Just an idea.

They should be given the choice between higher education or a job- if not disabled or the spouse raising the children or caring for elderly parents/siblings at home.

a reply to: reldra

5 mill jobs are really not a massive amount, especially in the US and the innovation will create more.

I agree.

Education is really important for today's Markets. People need to realizes the jobs of yesterdays of having little education are no more.

Children are going to have to apply themselves more in education, there is nothing for drop outs. I have stressed this for many years now.

I owned a computer business back in the 1990's for many years. I had to close my business after 911 when the economy went into a slump.

At the height of my business, I did not imagine that the home computer would be something of the past and cell phones would be able to do what computers did in the 1990's and better.

The computer technology has jump in huge leaps, faster then I could imagine.

Look at today's cars, they are run by sophisticated software, and now GM and Apple have come out with driver less cars.

In some way I look at some of these invitations to help manage our lives much better.

I was watching a video on Facebook of the new TV they have now invented. You can roll it up and tuck it under your arm, that's right, it is as thin as paper.

Can you imagine what technology will be like in just 10 years from now?

a reply to: Informer1958

It's not like it'll be a surprise when it happens. If we're discussing it now, then many will have time to prepare, educate and be ready when this industrial revolution happens.

a reply to: Informer1958

Let's be realistic and admit that a basic standard needs to be established.

Currently technology is making life harder on the masses than easier.

It's only making life easier for those that can afford it and those that own capital.

Space Agencies need to hurry up with spaceship or spacecraft building. So we can have a galactic war against our Robot overlords.

Thank God... My back is killing me.

a reply to: Informer1958

You do realize that most of the advances you mention are the result of a vibrant capitalistic society...?

I personally, intentionally ignore the "latest" so called electronically produced conveniences... to include communication...

I think the "connected" world is on the verge of a nervous breakdown should they lose their smartphone, twitter, FB, email updates...

I mean seriously... they are now used to monitor your daily workout should you have the app...

I would ask you though... what would you do with all the free education college graduates, once they skated through their free education?

the nation is automated, and all that's left is minimal employment for folks to maybe, maintain automated processes?

Sounds off the wall to me... but I am intentionally in the sticks, and quick to scrutinize any effort to eliminate basic hard work...

confuzzled here

a reply to: JacKatMtn

If someone came to me tomorrow and said, "hey Onequestion, don't worry about having to survive, I want you to focus on your education!"

I would immediately sign up for a computer science program at Santa Barbara City College and begin finishing my education goals in computer programming.

After getting my computer science degree I would consider two career options.

Either learn Cisco routing technology (CCNA, CCNP, CCIE), or get a Red Hat certificate and get into Linux and network security.

Either way I'd like to get into security, or software engineering and program robotics.

a reply to: reldra

I would choose higher education and research over a job. Sadly I'm stuck with a job. Is such a waste of brainpower. I've always done well in school and college, I just don't have the capability to handle education and a full time job.

I'm a thinker, labor does not suit me.

I wonder how many scientific minds have been squandered by this system...

originally posted by: Puppylove
a reply to: reldra

I would choose higher education and research over a job. Sadly I'm stuck with a job. Is such a waste of brainpower. I've always done well in school and college, I just don't have the capability to handle education and a full time job.

I'm a thinker, labor does not suit me.

I agree. Do they still have Pell Grants? Can you borrow money? It's a pain to pay back, but worth it.