Robots and automation may not take your desk job after all

CONNECTING

Despite talk of job automation in practically every industry, the question no longer seems to be whether jobs will be automated, but rather: Which jobs are at greatest risk and how concerned we should be about the changes? But is this anxiety actually based in reality?

Let’s be clear: People are afraid. According to the a report released by Jobvite earlier this year, 55% of job seekers are at least a little worried about job automation. But it turns out that those actually in charge of hiring aren’t there yet. Another Jobvite report says that just 10% of recruiters anticipate automating some jobs in the next two or three years.

We are entering the second wave of the jobs automation process, “Automation 2.0.” We’ve seen predictable, repeatable, physical tasks (think forklifts on the factory floor or assembly-line work) be automated. But now, just as the recruiters predicted, automating the next wave of cognitive work (think diagnosing diseases or reviewing legal documents) will prove much more difficult, slowing the process until we figure out how to do it.

It’s important to recognize that we will inevitably automate parts of almost every job. We’ve seen it happen already across manufacturing, food service and retail operations. As we move into the cognitive work arena, the idea will be the same: We’ll see automation of many predictable, scalable and repeatable tasks.

But while computers can do the route analysis, even they have limits. Instead of physical work, computerization of tasks will in things like data collection or the processing of algorithms.

As this next wave of automation transpires, it will unveil the real value of humans at work. Humans have an understanding of the dynamic nuances inherent in working relationships and the ability to respond and adapt to those nuances; machines probably will not get there. This is where strong managers and mentors excel. Humans can provide judgment and hold each other accountable for their actions.

While fears about Automation 2.0 aren’t as founded as we thought, the movement will impact the labor market significantly. As technology enables experts to offload rote tasks and analysis, they gain time to tend to the other work that cannot be automated — the work that makes them uniquely necessary. In that sense, people performing expert cognitive labor will become significantly more productive.

It’s already happening. We’re seeing doctors who can effectively oversee the treatment of hundreds of patients because they have computers. We’re seeing lawyers who can handle hundreds of clients because they have technology to assist in research and analysis.

These changes aren’t negative, but people concerned about how the automation of cognitive work might impact their careers can’t stick their heads in the sand. If we can continue to innovate and accept technology in the labor market and better incorporate technological skills into our education system, then we will continue to create the kinds of lucrative opportunities that only humans can effectively seize.