Humans Still Wanted Despite Advances In Automation

Mark Cahill, managing director for the ManpowerGroup, UK, commented that companies were deploying a myriad of approaches to upskill their existing workforce and build talent further, with many employers turning to long-term training courses. Online learning management systems are a popular channel for organizations to use, providing mass content which is especially useful for onboarding, compliance and cybersecurity training. Companies need to promote a culture of learning, provide career guidance, and offer short, focused upskilling opportunities. People need to know how to prepare for high growth roles of the future and that their employer supports their learning. As well as providing internal in-person and online training, companies can tap into external resources by partnering with organizations such as schools, universities and industry bodies to build communities of talent." The report also found that demand for IT skills is growing significantly: 16% of employers expect to increase headcount in IT, five times more than those expecting a decrease. The vast majority of employers in the U.S plan to increase or maintain headcount as a result of automation. Upskilling is on the rise, with 76% of companies planning to upskill their workforce by 2020, up from 28% in 2011. In the UK, 95% of employers are planning to increase or maintain headcount as a result of automation, according to the report. The research found that companies that are digitalizing are growing and this growth is producing more and new kinds of jobs. Cahill argued that the narrative around automation and AI "stealing our jobs" couldn't be further from the truth. As robots enter the workforce, they are transforming jobs but equally creating more employment opportunities as well. Every industry needs to accept this revolution is here to stay. Employers need to work out how to manage the shift and get humans to collaborate with machines."