The future of work isn’t what you think it will be. Instead of the predictions of mass unemployment, we’re actually seeing more people working than ever before—and in better jobs than ever before. There’s still plenty to learn about the state of the future of work and how it will affect each individual worker, but that research should be based on facts, not fear-mongering or preconceived notions about the future. Today, we’ll dig into why so many people have started their own businesses in recent years and how more free agents are changing the face of employment as we know it.
It seems that every day we hear about a new technology or methodology that will disrupt our workforce. This can be both exciting and concerning: while some new developments may provide more opportunities, others could eliminate jobs.
How do we prepare for what’s next? This is no small matter: By 2020, 40% of American jobs could be automated. Yet today’s worker needs to know how to harness AI and machine learning tools in order to compete in today’s economy.
The future of work is being shaped by artificial intelligence, and while that may be a cause for concern, it also means you’ll no longer have to fear being replaced by an algorithm—you’ll be competing with robots for your job.
In fact, according to a study from researchers at Oxford University in England, 47 percent of U.S. jobs are at risk from automation in the next 20 years. And nearly two-thirds of respondents from our survey said they believe their company will completely eliminate or replace workers with robotics or AI within five years. Instead of fearing automation, embrace it: It provides humans with more freedom than ever before. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!
There are already almost as many work-at-home employees in America as there are factory workers. And it’s not just remote work or virtual assistants—there are so many kinds of jobs that can be done from anywhere, including transcription and translation, graphic design, photography, accounting, and even software development. The truth is that workers will no longer need to sit at a desk all day; they’ll be able to use their time wisely, doing what they do best in any location.
Collaboration will be a critical skill for workers in all industries, and research has shown that people are more productive and creative when they’re allowed to work from home or out in nature. In fact, there’s evidence to suggest that even co-located teams could benefit from a flexible approach to working together. As it becomes increasingly common for work to bleed into leisure time, it will become even more important for employees to manage their schedules strategically.
No matter what career field you’re in, it’s safe to say that technological advancements will affect your industry. Experts agree that even if you stay in your current role, there will be technology that changes how you do your job. The question is whether that technology creates opportunities or challenges for you—and how quickly can you keep up with new technology so that it doesn’t become a hindrance.
Emotions have a direct effect on our work, and by understanding how your feelings and emotions work, you can make smarter decisions about your professional future. The more we can understand what makes us tick – both individually and as a collective – the better we’ll be able to plan for not only our own needs but those of other stakeholders in our careers.
By helping ourselves become more human-centered, our ability to move forward will take off with new levels of efficacy. And that’s good news for everyone – especially anyone who is tasked with managing people and making sure they are happy, engaged and performing at their highest potential while they do it.
The fear that artificial intelligence will take away jobs is not new. In 1817, it was handloom weavers who were considered to be at risk from mechanical weaving devices; in 1921, it was telephone operators; and in 1958, computer programmers were said to be at risk from machine automation. The truth is that technology does not just replace old jobs, it also creates new ones.
The Future of Employment is Better Than People Realize: A quick Google search on The Future of Work will show you how common it is for people to think about future employment in negative terms. In fact, articles and media sources are littered with concerns about job loss to automation and artificial intelligence as well as government-funded initiatives to educate displaced workers. However, if we dig deeper into these assumptions, we find that there are many reasons to believe that not only will employment not decline but actually increase in time.