The Changing Face Of The Workforce

New technology is leading to dramatic shifts in the way companies operate

- Robert Anderson

You can barely open a newspaper these days without warnings of our impending obsolescence.

Technological advances, including automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and cognitive computing, could soon replace jobs as varied as airline pilots and medical practitioners, if the reports are to be believed — with a devastating impact on the global workforce.

And the impact may not be as far away as we think, with a March study by professional services firm PwC estimating that up to 38 per cent of jobs in the US, 35 per cent in Germany and 30 per cent in the UK are at risk of automation by the early 2030s.

According to David d’Souza, head of engagement and London at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development — an association for human resource management professionals — there are two extremes being discussed.

The first is a utopian future where automation allows people to focus on emotionally intelligent work without worrying about repetitive tasks.

Meanwhile, the second is the rapid diminishment of available jobs with a privileged elite dominating the economic landscape.

He believes both predictions neglect the complexities of modern day working, particularly in roles where a variety of different tasks are performed, but more needs to be done to make sure workers remain relevant as technology continues to advance.

“What we’re attempting to do is look at how technology can be used to augment people to do a better quality of job rather than just replace them,” he says.

Key to this change will be human resources departments, which d’Souza suggests will be able to play a more active role in worker development and future-proofing the workforce through technology adoption.

“The next generation will automate some HR tasks, providing a risk or opportunity to influence the strategic agenda,” he says.