A third of UK workers (32 per cent) believe their job will be automated in the next decade
UK employees aren’t being equipped with the skills required by an automated workplace, according to a new study from ADP. The findings reveal that despite a third (32 per cent) of workers believing their job will be automated within 10 years and one in ten (10 per cent) predicting it will happen in two, half of those affected (49 per cent) say their employer isn’t preparing to reskill them for the new world of work.
ADP surveyed 1,300 UK working adults across the country as part of The Workforce View in Europe 2018, which gives a snapshot of employees’ views about their jobs, workplace and career plans. The findings indicate that thousands of workers are worried about the prospect of mass automation and how this will impact their own career prospects if they aren’t prepared with the right skills.
Concerns are greatest amongst younger workers, with nearly half (46 per cent) of those between the ages of 16 and 35 believing their role will be replaced by a machine in the next ten years. The brunt of automation is also focused on London, with 46 per cent of workers in the Capital worrying about the rise of the robots, significantly higher than the national average.
Certain industries also feel more under threat from technological disruption, with nearly two thirds (61 per cent) of those in IT and telecoms saying their role will be redundant in ten years, along with half (52 per cent) of those in financial services. However, on the plus side, these sectors are also more likely to be upskilling their staff, compared to other industries (60 per cent and 40 per cent respectively).
“Automation may seem like an issue for future generations, but our findings show that machines could replace thousands of employees in as few as five years,” commented Jeff Phipps, Managing Director at ADP UK. “Artificial intelligence and robotics are progressing at such a pace that machines will soon have the capability to do the job of humans in a whole range of professions and industries. And while this might be good for efficiency and productivity, it could leave thousands facing redundancy and change the face of the workplace forever. However, the fear is often worse than the reality.
“More robots in the workplace won’t mean all humans become obsolete, as new and maybe better jobs will be created, while other roles will change considerably. By starting to upskill and retrain workers now, employers can ensure they and their employees are as ready as possible to work side-by-side with the machines. That’s why it is so important for companies
Rebecca joined the HRreview editorial team in January 2016. After graduating from the University of Sheffield Hallam in 2013 with a BA in English Literature, Rebecca has spent five years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past she has been part of the editorial teams at Sleeper and Dezeen and has founded her own arts collective.
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