7 Jobs that Technology Could Replace in the Coming Years
Depending on the survey, there are many different estimates about how many jobs are about to become obsolete because of technology. According to one think tank, in the public sector, about a quarter million administrative and civil service jobs are going to be lost within the next two years or so – resulting in billions of dollars in savings to the public.
By 2030, McKinsey Global Institute estimates a loss of anywhere from 400 million up to 800 million jobs because of technology. They estimate that 60% of jobs today will use computers to handle at least 30% of job duties formerly handled by personnel.
Not all jobs are susceptible to technology’s advance – at least for now. Some jobs will slowly disappear and some are first on the chopping block; namely low wage and middle class administrative and operator jobs. Other jobs will see wages drop significantly in order to remain competitive.
7 Jobs Technology, Robots, and or AI Could Replace
Almost 90 years ago, the famous economist John Keynes estimated that by now, most people would only work 15 hours per week. In fact the reverse has been true (the average worker works 15 hours per day). During the great industrial manufacturing era in the Northeast, textile workers feared the tech of their time, weaving machines, would take their jobs and resorted to violence to stop it.
Unlike predictions in the past, we have very strong evidence that today’s estimates are going to be proven mostly true. We are already seeing technology, robots, and AI taking over jobs in many different industries which is why it is so important to stay relevant in your industry by staying on top of these trends and finding ways to differentiate yourself.
#1: Warehouse/Assembly Jobs
Already, Amazon’s fulfillment process has revolutionized warehouse distribution, using robots and automation to process nearly half of their warehouse distribution. According to The Future of Employment Report from 2013 by University of Oxford, jobs that are repetitive in nature are 99% more likely to be replaced by automation. That includes tax preparers, telemarketers, data clerks, etc.
#2: Administrative/Secretarial Jobs
Automation, chatbots, and AI have already eliminated the receptionist job in many office buildings. Soon, they will replace secretarial jobs, administrative jobs, legal assistance, paralegals, and approximately 100K jobs in the field of law alone over the next two decades.
#3: Fast Food/Service Jobs
In California, a robot called flippy is already replacing workers in the CaliBurger restaurant with a more than 80% chance of this type of technology automating all fast food jobs. Fast food like other service jobs including concierge, receptionist, call center operators, even cashiers are disappearing – “one of the most common jobs in America” – and will decline significantly over the next decade.
#4: Customer Service Attendants
Customer service has long been replaced by automated phone systems and now online chatbots. Soon Smart devices like Amazon Alexa and holograms will completely replace customer service attendants.
#5: Drivers
Driverless cars will not only replace taxi drivers in the same way that rideshare apps like Uber already are, they will replace drivers in general. Limo drivers, freight truck drivers, and individual drivers will all be replaced by autonomous vehicles over the next couple of decades or sooner.
#6: Medical Technicians
Cameras that can be swallowed, Smart watches that monitor heart rates, and more are small samples of what technology is making possible in the medical field. It is estimated that technology will be used to make diagnoses, treat and monitor patients, and robots will eventually perform surgeries, eliminating many medical technician jobs.
#7: Builders/Construction Workers
Finally, CRE is seeing the beginnings of a complete disruption in construction. 3-D technology may end up replacing construction workers, building designers, and builders themselves. Down the line, much of real estate will be automated. However, agents are considered one of those tech-proof jobs that will always need humans somewhere in the mix.