Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/135744
Workforce Management THE FUTURE OF JOBS IN A WORLD OF ROBOTICS Jobs that will likely go away: Investment Plan Automation and robots will—and already have—made lives easier and businesses more efficient. And just like the buggy whips of • • • • Utility company engineers and repairman Drivers of taxis, limos, buses, and trucks Mail and freight deliverymen Inspectors the past, jobs will come and go as a result. Technology is expected • Farmers, miners, and fisherman developing and investing in their talent, companies can realize a to take a large bite out of certain jobs, specifically for lowerskilled workers, which is why companies and countries will need to invest in developing the skills and knowledge of their people. By great return—in the form of lower turnover, greater brand value, New jobs that may be created • • • • • Micro-grid engineers, managers, and regulators Traffic monitoring system managers Delivery dispatchers Robot designers, engineers, and repairmen Robot trainers and better bottom lines. According to The Conference Board, companies conducting business in different countries should take the following steps to make sure they can attract and retain the right talent: • Remain abreast of trends in education, employment, incomes, and skills. Already, significant strides have been made in automating elements of our jobs. Narrative Science is a company that develops algorithms to use artificial intelligence to train computers to write newspaper stories on sports and companies' stock performance. Military forces rely on robots to disarm explosives and unmanned drones to explore dangerous areas, keeping troops out of harm's way. Now, robots are branching into healthcare. Robot-assisted surgeries are quickly becoming standard for many procedures. Unlike humans who can experience hand tremors, robots can keep a steady hand and provide an unsurpassed view of small, tight surgical fields like the prostate. With advances in artificial intelligence, robots will be able to learn surgical techniques and apply them in common operations. Doctors might even be able to control robots through wireless technology, opening up opportunities to perform operations on patients in underdeveloped countries. In Japan, concerns over caring for its aging population are driving researchers to develop robots that can assist with eldercare. Nursebots lift elderly patients and bring them meals. And Panasonic has developed robots that wash hair, deliver drugs, and • Identify what types of skills and capabilities are required—and look for sources and talent pools to tap. • Assess current workforces and evaluate what is needed to meet future business needs. • Grow skilled employees into the leaders who will guide the company in the future. • Effectively use expatriates. Instead of short-term assignments, companies should consider using longer-term placements so the expats can build expertise, adapt to local cultures and environments, and remain productive for a longer length of time. Of course, companies must make sure these expats have a proper reintegration when they return to their home countries. While some problems, such as stagnant population growth, cannot be solved by businesses, other causes of the talent crunch can be stymied by businesses. In a recent quarterly report, the McKinsey Institute recommended that global companies strive to increase the number of women they employ in managerial and executive roles. Another simple solution is to focus on breaking down cultural and language barriers through training. help patients communicate. Businesses also have the opportunity to focus on developing the While robots will replace humans in a number of jobs, they might will empower and prepare the workforce of tomorrow. For also create millions of jobs—just as computers and the Internet example, businesses can: did back in the 1990s. In some cases, robots are better suited to • Develop partnerships with education facilities, not just colleges skills of the broader population with the hopes that their efforts do certain jobs than any human. For example, jobs that require but also primary and secondary schools, to help develop precision, control, and unwavering attention—such as producing curriculum and interest in science, technology, engineering, and computer chips or inspecting every point on a CAT scan for cancer—are best left to machines. mathematics (STEM) jobs. • Invest in internal training programs. • Create strategies to hire, train, and retain employees from New jobs will be born from the machines themselves. These underused labor pools. opportunities are ones that we cannot even imagine will exist because they are jobs the machines will make up. Consider the jobs and activities that exist today but weren't even a blip on the radar 100, 50, or even 10 years ago. Likely, the highest earning professions in 2050 will directly result from automation and machines that have yet to be invented. Carolyn White is senior VP of marketing and public relations for The Graebel Companies, Inc. Responsible for companywide marketing and communications for the global company, White has been with the company since 1991. MAY 2013 | www.hrotoday.com [51]