Is automation a threat to your job?

New technologies are emerging and showing up in our everyday lives at a rapid rate. Many of us recognize robotic automation as an inevitably disruptive force. Robots haven has been used in the workplace for many years and the reality is their skills are expanding, they are more productive, faster, and often better performing than their human counterparts. According to a recent study, as many as 47% of all jobs in the workplace are at risk of "computerization."

Research suggests information-intensive tasks will be automated swiftly but this does not mean if you are a doctor, lawyer, architect, reporter, or even a programmer you are safe. So what can you do to prepare for a future where you have to compete against self-driving vehicles, semi-autonomous robots, intelligent algorithms, and predictive analytic tools? Here are some skills that will help you in your future career. 

Computational Thinking
Computational thinking is the thought process involved in formulating a problem and expressing its solutions in a way that a computer-human or machine can effectively carry out. It refers to the ability to translate vast amounts of data into abstract concepts and understand data-based reasoning, problem-solving, analyzing the validity of solutions, and spotting patterns in data.

 All these skills are essential to the workplace and can be applied to pretty much any sector. What this means is; as an individual or employee you should be able to render solutions that can be carried out by both humans and machines. Thinking in this fashion will keep your job secure.

Digital Literacy
Digital literacy is the ability to use digital technology to locate, review, utilize and create new information. Digital literacy = digital tool knowledge + critical thinking + social engagement. Becoming literate in how the technical world works are equivalent to reading, writing, and math.

Remember there was a time when job candidates were encouraged to list "proficient in Microsoft Word" on their resume. Now that kind of skills are considered 'standard.' So one must be and remain tech-savvy, from white-collar to blue-collar employees. Being knowledgeable in this regard will enhance, enrich and augment your life in line with new technologies being rolled out in your workplace in the future.

Collaborate with the machine
If humans are to compete with machines in any meaningful way, they will have to become part of machines themselves. In this way, humans are not in competition with machines, but working in conjunction with them. What this means is; we are not in a race against machines. If we race against them, we lose. We must 'work with them instead of being scared of 'them'.

Look at it this way; machines will do jobs we never imagined even needed to be done and they will help us discover new jobs for ourselves. See it as them helping us!

In the future, you'll be paid based on how well you work with robots so you should understand how they function and think. Worrying about them taking your job is unnecessary, your worry must be invested in learning new skills and in keeping abreast with these changes so you are not eliminated. They'll always be tasks that robots cannot complete and only humans can and vice versa.

Connect with us and let us help you develop your career that will safeguard your future. We are a specialist recruitment company with over 3 decades of experience, specializing in IT, Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain and Freight industries.