Automation and the Job Dilemma
Walmart Inc. recently made a big announcement regarding automation. According to a Reuters report, the company is expecting nearly 65% of its stores to be serviced by automation by the end of 2026. Although this could mean speedier deliveries, it also comes as the company shared plans to lay off more than 2,000 employees. That is a concerning correlation for many. Does more automation translate to less jobs?
Automation’s Impact on the Job Market
Now that we’ve posed the scary question, let’s dive in. With new technologies such as ChatGPT growing in popularity (and controversy), AI and automation is becoming a more realistic part of our daily lives than it already was. This certainly includes the career part of our lives. By making functions easier, such tech can make jobs once controlled by people obsolete. To highlight this shift, ZDNet pointed to Goldman Sachs’ projection that AI could replace around 300 million jobs, including 25% of the entire labor market and 37% of architecture and engineering positions.
Similarly, the World Economic Forum published a report in 2020 that estimated around 85 million jobs face being replaced by machines by 2025. However, that same report concluded that “97 million new jobs would be created to help support this new economy,” as explained by Paris Marx at Business Insider.
Automation and the New Job Market
So, we ask again - does more automation translate to less jobs? The answer is both yes and no. While some professions may become irrelevant, there are new ones that will need to be developed in order to meet the rising demand and expertise required for the burgeoning automation field. Take these words from Jada Jones at ZDNet. “If you're worried about your job being usurped by AI, Goldman Sachs anticipates that displaced workers will become reemployed in jobs that emerge as a direct result of widespread AI adoption.”
Vicki Salemi, career expert at Monster, told CNBC that, “The skills gap is still sharp, it’s still a significant gap.” Basically, companies are still and will continue to look for people that have tech training, especially as it is further integrated into every aspect of operations. For example, CNBC noted that manual testing experts are in demand. These professionals audit software in order to make sure that it is working properly and free of vulnerabilities.
While the emerging job market stemming from automation comes with familiar global workforce struggles, particularly on the global spectrum where fair pay and labor conditions will need to be addressed, it has the potential to create opportunity. At AtomTech™, we are searching for team members that can help us further navigate the evolution of automation and automated industries. Contact us for more information on job opportunities at AtomTech.
Sources
“Walmart aims for 65% of stores to be automation serviced by 2026” - Siddharth Cavale, Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/walmart-says-65-stores-will-be-serviced-by-automation-2026-keeps-forecast-2023-04-04/
“AI could automate 25% of all jobs. Here's which are most (and least) at risk” - Jada Jones, ZDNet
https://www.zdnet.com/article/ai-could-automate-25-of-all-jobs-heres-which-are-most-and-least-at-risk/
“A.I.'s dirty secret” - Paris Marx, Business Insider
https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-ai-will-not-take-jobs-create-future-work-opportunities-2023-2
“The 7 most in-demand tech skills for freelancers—many pay more than $125 an hour” - Gil Malinsky, CNBC/Make It
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/05/most-in-demand-tech-skills-for-freelancersmany-pay-more-than-125-an-hour.html