Humans and robots need to get along

Though the thought of losing your job to a robot may be alarming, the reality is that robots and humans will likely need to work together. Pic Getty.

Half of New Zealand workers have seen their job responsibilities change as a result of automation, according to an online poll by recruitment consultants Hays, with 16 per cent saying automation had impacted their job "significantly" as their duties had changed as a result, or their roles became redundant. Another 34 per cent said their job has been impacted "partially", with some tasks automated and non-routine duties increasing. The final 50 per cent said automation had so far had no impact on their day-to-day job responsibilities.

"There's no denying that robots will continue to join workplaces across the country, with professionals able to benefit if they take the appropriate action now," says Adam Shapley, managing director of Hays in New Zealand.

"Even if you are one of the 50 per cent of skilled professionals whose job has not yet been impacted by automation, it's essential you don't rest on your laurels. Automation of routine and repetitive tasks is inevitable."

Though the thought of losing your job to a robot may be alarming, the reality is that robots and humans will likely need to work together — whether that's the human working on repairs and training to do with using the robots, or through side-by-side, collaborative, applications — we'll need to learn to get along.

Collaborative robotics, or "cobots" are not just popping up in robotics, they are also being developed for customer service roles where language translation is needed, as well as in hospitals settings and in the classroom. Good news for the creative industries and people who make a living from their creative thinking — it's believed creative jobs will be less prone to automation as human imagination is harder to replicate. No matter what industry, the more repetitive tasks you do look likely to be automated in the future, which provides the benefit that human roles can be developed in a higher capacity or for higher responsibilities.

"To prepare, consider what your job would look like if all the routine and repetitive duties you perform were automated," says Shapley.

"Then determine how you could fill the time freed up by the automation of these tasks in a way that adds greater strategic value to your employer." "Upskill in the higher-value areas you've identified so you'll be ready for the automation of your lower-value, repetitive tasks," he says. "But don't just sit back and wait for automation to knock on your door. Be proactive and embrace change by exploring relevant automation tools and their practical application for your role."

His advice is to set up a meeting with your boss to discuss how new technology could be of use in your role, then present your plan for how you can focus your time on higher-value tasks.

"Remember, constant upskilling is the key to remaining relevant and employable when lower-value tasks are automated," says Shapley.

Hays believes constant upskilling is "the new normal" for anyone hoping to stay relevant in an increasingly mechanised world and professional development is no longer a "nice to have", but an essential to being able to function successfully in the New Zealand workplace. Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan said workers needed to be better equipped for the future, which its research showed would see automation of a third of Kiwi workplaces by 2036.

"Workers will require increasing access to skills-based training as the workplace continues to rapidly evolve," he says.

Infometrics estimates the majority of automation will happen at the lower-skilled positions in industries such as agriculture, forestry, manufacturing and the service sector, but there are also industries such as stockbroking likely to be affected. The research shows automation will affect Māori and Pasifika workers more than others, and regions more than centres such as Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton and Tauranga.

Kiernanhas called on the government to provide a national skills strategy to cope with the predicted automation.

Despite whether you see automation as daunting or exciting, it is becoming a fact of life in New Zealand workplaces.

On the bright side, remember the benefits — such as better job satisfaction once the more repetitive tasks are automated, new technology jobs created to service the robotics and an opening for innovative designers to create automation options.