Advances in technology are causing radical changes to the jobs market. Find out which industries will be recruiting and which are TIPPED to replace their workforce with robots…
According to the latest official data, Britain now has the joint highest employment rate since records began in 1971.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics in April show there were 31.84 million people in work, 39,000 more than for September to November 2016 and 312,000 more than a year earlier.
In the three months leading up to this February, the unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds was 12.4% – lower than 13.7% a year earlier – and the overall employment rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were in work) was 74.6%, the highest since comparable records began in 1971.
While the possibility of a Brexit-induced economic downturn looms large, increased automation – or the rise of robots – is set to change the jobs market irrevocably in the coming years, regardless of economic conditions.
Experts warn that large swathes of the workforce could become obsolete.
Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, has warned that automation could put 15 million jobs at risk – nearly half of the national workforce.
Research by multinational professional services firm Deloitte also found that 1.35 million jobs — 28% of all Brits in work — have a high chance of being automated in the next 20 years.
But it’s not all bad news. While technology contributed to the loss of about 800,000 lower-skilled jobs between 2001 and 2015, it helped to create 3.5 million higher-skilled jobs in their place, according to Deloitte.
Each of these new jobs has a salary an average of £10,000 more per year than the jobs lost, adding £140 billion to the economy through increased wages.
Here’s a guide to the industries most likely to continue recruiting - and those most likely to shrink their workforces…
On The Up
Healthcare
Recent research put healthcare at the top of a list of occupations with a risk factor of 1% or less of being overtaken by automation.
The professions under the healthcare umbrella deemed safe from being carried out by robots include Occupational Therapists, Physicians and Surgeons, Dieticians and Nutritionists, Psychologists, Dentists, Podiatrists and School Psychologists. The roles of Sports Trainers and Social Workers appear safe for the foreseeable, too.
Construction
A report by DKM consultants indicated the construction industry would grow by 9% per year up to 2020 and could sustain more than 100,000 additional jobs.
The report predicted that 9,600 managerial roles would also be need to be filled in the industry over the next few years.
It also indicated there would be a need to recruit 30,800 extra Carpenters and Joiners, 27,600 general Labourers, 18,100 Operatives, 15,200 Electricians, 13,900 Plasterers and Tilers, 11,800 Plumbers, 9,400 Painters and Decorators and 7,800 Bricklayers.
Staying Stable
Education
Economists forecast that the UK will need plenty of well-educated people to fill higher-level roles, with more Teachers and Lecturers needed to train up the workforce.
While automated online courses can supplement personalised tuition, extra teachers, trainers and other educators will be required to ensure workers have the skills required for the roles of the future.
Law
Almost 40% of legal jobs are at risk from automation, according to Deloitte. Intelligent searches can already outperform junior Lawyers in reviewing documents. Low-level tasks are also being done abroad.
Since 2001, technology has contributed to the loss of 31,000 jobs in the profession, but there has been an overall increase of about 80,000 personnel, mostly higher-skilled, better-paid roles such as Barristers and Solicitors.
The biggest losers have been Secretaries and Paralegals – jobs in these areas look set to be cut further in the coming years.
Not So Safe
Insurance
In a recent report, consulting giant McKinsey warned administrative staff working for insurance companies are likely to be replaced.
Top of the ‘at risk’ list are Insurance Underwriters, with the highest rating of 98.9%, followed by Loan Officers at 98.4%, Motor Insurance Assessors (98.3%) and Credit Analysts (97.9%).
However, it predicted insurers would need more humans to sell, analyse and market digital products and detect fraud.
Publishing
The dawning of the digital age has seen a decline in printed newspapers and magazines, with many titles moving exclusively online or closing.
Robotic journalists may be in the pipeline, too. The Los Angeles Times has published the first automatic breaking news story, using an algorithm that writes up a short article when an earthquake occurs.
While print is predicted to keep contracting, there are opportunities in digital media, particularly for Designers, Content Providers and in technical support and development.
