Will you lose your job to a robot?

With many of today’s jobs beginning to lose relevance in a world increasingly dominated by new technologies, the challenge facing anyone at the beginning of their career is studying something that will match the demand for jobs of the future, while developing the skills necessary to succeed in the modern workplace.

65% of current students will end up in jobs that have not even been invented yet. This also means that people already employed in jobs need to start thinking about how they are going to make a living in the next 10 to 20 years.

Technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence, which are able to perform high-level, cognitively complicated tasks, may render certain jobs obsolete. Replacing human workers with technology is simply more productive and efficient.

However, it’s not all bad news, and it’s important to remember that the fourth industrial revolution is not going to be possible without the human minds that set it in motion in the first place.

Analysts predict that there will be a surge in job opportunities for software developers, data analysts and digital architects, as well as jobs that require creativity, ingenuity and innovative thinking.

Therefore, jobs that are either highly creative professions that can’t be automated, or professions in computer, science and mathematics related fields as well as architecture and engineering, which combine art and science, are the most likely to grow.

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Develop the right skills for the job

There are five essential skills you should develop to be successful in the modern workplace – the five ‘C’s’: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and computational thinking

You need to focus on problem solving and a certain way of thinking and operating, rather than only developing technical skills such as mastering a specific coding language or software.

With technology advancing so quickly, it’s vital that young people learn to be agile and embrace change.

These skills are essential for work in the 21st century and need to be instilled in young people at school level.

“Humans need not apply”

The best piece of advice for future job-seekers is to stay away from jobs that are in danger of becoming obsolete. There are certain “musts” humans need to remain relevant—particularly when it comes to thinking clearly about the skills future generations must prioritize. In order to make it in the future world of work students will need:

Education – We will need increased investment in education to attain higher level thinking and develop the knowledge and skills needed to implement new technologies on a large scale.

Creativity – Creativity is one of the most coveted human skills. Machines will continue to enrich and augment our creativity.

Judgment and accountability – We may be willing to accept a computer-generated diagnosis or legal decision, but we will still expect a human to be ultimately accountable for the outcomes.

Of course nobody can predict the future, the best approach would be to constantly stay abreast of new developments by upskilling yourself to remain relevant, being flexible and adaptable to change, and staying away from jobs and industries that are in danger of becoming null and void as a result of technology.

*Angela Schaerer is the Teacher Engagement Lead for Microsoft South Africa.