Photo by Hyundai Motor Group from Pexels

Automization is among the significant developments of the 21st century valuable in the aspects of social transformation. In production, sales, health, and finance industries, automation technologies are now changing the approach employed at the workplace. While the robots, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced and complex system software are getting popular and commonplace studies and discussions regarding the resultant effects on the jobs and employments are largely prevalent.

The Rise of Automation

Automate means the way in which an organization employs a technology interface and application in order to perform a certain task that used to be done manually. It ranges from the most basic of mechanical devices to the complex artificial Intelligence models that could learn. Automation began during the Industrial Revolution, but the current revolution is probably due to the technological development in machine learning, robotics, and data analytical systems.

Efficiency and Productivity Gains

The first advantage that is apparent with the use of automation is that of efficiency and productivity enhancement. Robotic solutions are usually capable of executing the same tasks with a higher speed and a higher quality than manual employees. For instance, in the manufacturing processes, it becomes easy to assemble machinery and part produce goods using robots hence the time taken to bring a product to the market is greatly reduced. It should be noted that increase in productivity has its advantage and may prove a great benefit to businesses through reduction in costs, and thus the theory of lowering prices to consumers.

Job Displacement and Transformation

However, the application of automation is not without some effects that are considered to be on disadvantageous side, major of which is the displacement of individuals in workplaces. As we progress towards the automation of processes, traditionally, manually or repetitively executed tasks will be at the verge of becoming automated. There are generalist jobs that are most likely to be automate where the tasks are repetitive and self explanatory. For example, jobs dealing with assembly lines, data input, and even some call centre jobs are gradually becoming automated.

But, automation is not just about this consequence. In as much as there are losses of jobs, there are also gains of new jobs too. There is always creation of new industries and types of jobs when many jobs are automated by use of various technologies. For instance, the emergence of the technology industry has occasioned the need for software engineers and AI professionals, data analysts, among others. Sporadically, with further advancement in the automation technologies there is great demand for personnel who can develop, service and manage these kinds of systems.

Shifts in Skill Requirements

This transition to application of technology is also changing the skill profile that is expected from the employees. That is why, as simple activities are outsourced to machines, there is a shift toward valuing capabilities that are hard for an AI to mimic. Perusing skills such flexible thinking, critical thinking, creativity or solving intricate problems have become more desirable. Employees who can easily apply the change and gain new personalities are well placed to living in an automated world.

Education fraternity and training programs are important in imparting knowledge to candidates on this dynamic market. The investment in upskilling and reskilling programs is crucial to prepare people for work that is available in the job market. Continued learning and flexibility are in the process of turning into the undoubtedly valuable skills with regard to the further employment.

Economic and Social Implications

The social, economical benefits and disadvantage of automating are many and cannot clearly be defined. Efficiency and productivity on one hand may spur economic development and rise in standards of living. At the same time, we have the problem of skills gap and displacement of the workers at the center. It is, therefore, important that policymakers, business, and educational leaders engage in dialogue and find ways of solving the problems in order to see that the gains from automation are not accrued to a selected few.

Measures of social protection involving provisions like jobless benefits and labor market adjustment programmes are essential where people have been displaced from their present jobs. Also, generation of innovations and entrepreneurship can enable other opportunities for those whose jobs are replaced by the automated technologies.

Conclusion

And as with any other topic in the discourse on automation, the effect of automation on jobs and employment are up for discussion as the advancement of automation persists. Herein, lays the rub – the opportunity to reap the rewards of automation while avoiding the pitfalls is user planning and adjustment. Society should shift the attention to skill and innovation, and support them with the right policies so that it can answer the questions of how it will manage the automation and create a future where technology augments human capability not deprecates it.