The rise of robots in the workplace

One of the most likely scenarios is undertaking the position of robot minding

Whilst many believe that the influx of new technologies is making many jobs redundant, there are some positions which rely on people to oversee and improve on the technology used. So rather than stating your job title as a delivery person, how about an upgrade to Robot Supervisor instead?

Technological Advances

The evolution of job roles means that there may soon be a shift in job advertisements in the near future. It sounds like something straight from a sci-fi movie, yet working alongside robots could be a very real possibility for many.

Whilst the use of robots and other new technology means that there may be less of a need for physical jobs such as couriers or delivery people, there will also be the opportunity for many to work behind the scenes to ensure that these machines do the job correctly. After all, no form of technology is entirely free from potential risk. One of the most likely scenarios is undertaking the position of robot minding, which involves the continuous monitoring of machines to ensure that they are functioning correctly.

With new technology beginning to become such a huge influence in future employment opportunities, and no requirement to hold an advanced degree, you may soon see the use of robots in your line of work.

It is very unlikely, however, that the use of automation machines will lead to a sharp rise in unemployment, particularly when rolled out slowly. There is also the possibility of government-imposed limits to protect workers from losing their jobs due to the capabilities of these machines.

An example of this stems from the use of automated delivery vehicles, with the city of San Francisco creating new rules to limit their use. This is partly due to safety concerns, but it still helps to keep human workers in jobs that could potentially be taken over.

Safe Careers

Experts believe that there are certain industries which are deemed as future-proof. Whilst robots may still be able to heavily assist in these areas, new data has shown that there are many roles which are less likely to be taken over by machines in the future. These roles rely on the interaction between humans and their decision-making skills to ensure that a job has been done well. These so-called ‘safe jobs’ include careers in healthcare, education, human resources, construction and marketing.

So whilst job roles are continuously changing, could the use of robots soon take over from workers in the manual-labour sector or will they simply be added to the workforce to create a more efficient business? Only time will tell.


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The British Institute of Recruiters is the Professional Body operating The Recruitment Certification Scheme

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