Robotics expected to impact jobs growth and decline

Robotics will be a key feature in all of the fastest growing jobs over the next five years.

The 2017 edition of The Good Careers Guide suggests that more than 30,000 jobs will be added to the top five predicted for growth, and almost 17,000 wiped from the bottom five, throughout a period of five years.

“Where human interaction is at the core of an occupation, these roles are virtually impossible to automate and leave to computers and machines alone,” said Good Education Group Chief Data Analyst Ross White.

“But what we do know is that technology like robotics and automation will become an integral part of the way many jobs are delivered and enhanced.”

Early education teachers, occupational therapists, social workers, special education teachers, speech professionals and audiologists all use technology and devices, in conjunction with the human element, to do their jobs.

Occupational Therapy Australia CEO Rachel Norris said the incorporation of technology into the profession has ensured occupational therapy is as relevant today as it has ever been.

“Whether it’s helping children learn more effectively in the classroom or providing assessments to keep senior Australians safe on the roads, we use all kinds of technology to help people of all ages live meaningful and productive lives in the 21st century,” she said.

In contrast to the list of growing jobs, the five professions most in decline include binders, finishers and screen printers, metal engineering process workers, printing assistants, secretaries and sewing machinists.

“Four out of these five jobs are being replaced by automation. None of these roles requires human decision-making skills. Secretaries are also on the wane due to technology, with the adoption of digital assistants such as Siri, Cortana and Google Assistant,” said White.

The 2017 guide’s data emphasises the positive impact technology is having on the workforce. As new technology evolves and new devices and processes are developed, a wide range of jobs will be created transforming existing roles. Before smartphones, jobs like app designers, social media managers, Uber drivers, Airbnb hosts didn’t exist. The guide estimates almost 70% of children that entered primary school in 2016 will leave the education system to jobs that haven’t yet been created.

“With virtual and augmented reality becoming more technologically advanced and the further integration of computers with humans — there are any number of occupations waiting to be invented,” said White.

The Good Careers Guide 2017 features analysis on how technology has shaped the job market over the last 10 years and makes some predictions about the likely ‘jobs of the future’. This year the guide includes sections on the rise of entrepreneurship, volunteering and internships, and includes detailed descriptions of more than 400 jobs in Australia.

Image credit: ©jim/Dollar Photo Club

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