Are we at the cusp of a job crunch?
Choose pragmatism over alarmism. Automation, big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are already transforming scores of industries around the world. These are causing tectonic shifts that will make hundreds of different types of jobs redundant. This shall render up to a billion people jobless around the world. The present and future generations hoping to join the workforce should prepare accordingly. Those who are in jobs that are at risk should upgrade their skills to remain professionally relevant. Numerous studies have been conducted and there is a consensus about the probability of nearly seven hundred occupations being at severe to moderate to low risk.
Occupations at Severe Risk
The risk of job loss is at a staggering 99% probability for data entry operators, library technicians, clerks, operators of processing machines, tax preparers, freight, and cargo agents, watch repairers, insurance underwriters, mathematical technicians, sewers, searchers, abstractors, title examiners, and telemarketers.
There is a 98% probability of job loss for models, testers, inspectors, samplers, sorters, weighers, accountants, bookkeepers, auditors, legal secretaries, radio operators, sales workers, claims adjusters, investigators, parts salespersons, credit analysts, machine setters, tenders, engravers, etchers, tellers, referees, umpires, sports officials, appraisers of insurance and other financial services, loan officers, adjusters and brokers.
There is a 97% probability of job loss for lock and bridge tenders, woodworking setters and operators, assemblers, contractors and farm labors and various kinds of technicians who work with small to medium machines. These are not limited to any specific industry but all where the operating machines can be automated. Professions as diverse as construction workers and technicians working at dental laboratories have 97% probability of becoming obsolete.
The same probability stands for cashiers, equipment repairers, projectionists, prepress workers and technicians, real estate agents, telephone operators, timekeeping and payroll assistants, technicians working in food science and agriculture, credit authorizers, hostesses and hosts at lounges, restaurants and cafes.
Job loss is estimated at 96% probability for dispatchers, receptions, benefits and compensation managers, switchboard operators, counter attendants, administrative assistants and secretaries in several industries, mapping and surveying officers, locomotive engineers, gaming dealers, cooks, lobby attendants, ushers, ticket takers, posting and billing clerks.
There is a 95% probability of job loss for pedicurists and manicurists, checkers, measurers, operators or nuclear power reactors, surveillance officers in gaming, operating engineers, animal breeders, molders, landscapers, clerks at postal services and jewelers.
There is a 94% probability of job loss for waitresses and waiters, trimmers and cutters of food products, budget analysts, masons and finishers, cutters, welders, solderers, messengers, couriers, interviewers in many industries, tire builders, first-line supervisors in housekeeping and the janitorial department, agricultural inspectors, legal assistants and paralegals.
You can easily imagine the magnitude of job loss and that the impact is going to be as diverse as it can be. Laminators, fabricators, firers, installers, butchers, tax examiners, revenue agents, collectors, operators of trucks, tractors and office machines, pharmacy technicians, salespersons across much of the spectrum that is from retail to insurance, helpers, escorts and tour guides are going to lose their jobs. All such professionals must upgrade their skills to be suitable for one of the jobs of the future.
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