Administrative and office jobs are expected to be hardest hit by a wave of automation that is expected to gradually hit the work force by 2020.
Advances are being made quickly in the field of robotics and automation, and while many of these achievements have the tech industry patting itself on the back, these advancements are expected to put a major dent in the human workforce by 2020.
According to a recent study by the World Economic Forum, more than five million jobs could be lost to a robot work force, primarily in the office and administrative field. The study also expects that further robotic inroads will be made in the fields of manufacturing and production, areas that already have a strong automated presence.
The study claims that this “fourth industrial revolution” is coming because of the major advancements in “genetics, artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing, and biotechnology.” About two million human jobs are expected to be gained in smaller job fields, but about 7.1 million jobs will be lost to AI workers, for a net replacement of about five million jobs.
The 150-plus page report is full of charts and graphs looking at all fields of employment. The report is in preparation for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum starting tomorrow in Switzerland. The Forum has initiatives in place for such public good endeavors as Employment, Skills and Human Capital; Environment and Resource Security; Food Security and Agriculture; Future of the Global Financial System; Future of the Internet; and more.
Source: World Economic Forum, via Digital Trends
