Technological revolutions currently underway are poised to change the landscape of not just desk-based office jobs, but also transport, energy storage, and retail sales, says a new study by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Titled, ‘Jobs of Tomorrow: Technology and the Future of the World’s Largest Workforces’, the WEF report names seven core sectors – including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, transport and logistics, business and management, and healthcare sectors – that will be majorly impacted in productivity and labour by emerging technologies led by Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, advanced energy systems and sensor networks.
The labour market in these sectors comprises almost 80 per cent of the world’s workforce, the report stated.
“The path of technology development will be determined by decisions made now and in the coming years,” said Till Leopold, Head of Work, Wages, and Job Creation, WEF, on Tuesday.
“Understanding which technologies will be most transformative and how they will transform seven job families that make up almost 80 per cent of the world’s workers is crucial to anticipating their impact and driving towards positive outcomes,” Leopold said.
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Unlocking this productivity potential and managing risks will require concerted actions such as mobilising investment capital, accelerating global technology diffusion and ensuring inclusive access, the WEF said.
While drone technology is already enabling efficient urban deliveries in the United Arab Emirates and for transporting critical supplies – such as medical equipment – to rural Ghana, rooftop renewable energy systems in several African countries are stabilising frontline workers’ hours, preventing them from being sent home during power cuts, while creating demand for energy system professionals.
The WEF also noted that energy generation and storage technologies are transforming the wholesale and retail trade workforce in countries like Africa, India and Latin America.
In South Africa, Nigeria and India, wholesalers are implementing rooftop solar panels and batteries to avoid outages and reduce diesel use. This enables jobs to shift towards energy system monitoring, refrigeration management and predictive maintenance, and stabilises hours for frontline staff who used to be sent home during power cuts, it added.
The report also showcased how semi-automated construction equipment is reducing physical strain on workers and improving safety.
Additionally, robotics combined with AI data processing could redesign the patient journey and the workforce in the healthcare sector, it said.
The study called for tailored collaborative action from employers, governments and technology developers to maximise the benefits of the transformations ahead.
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