We live in an era marked by rapid technological advancement, automation, and artificial intelligence. The world is driven by technology that promises much but also presents many challenges. Self-driving cars, machines that read X-rays, and algorithms that respond to customer service inquiries are all manifestations of powerful new forms of automation. However, while these technologies increase productivity and (do not) improve our lives, their use will replace some work activities currently performed by humans, which, of course, raises significant concerns among parts of the population.
Technological advancement has always strongly influenced the emergence of new professions, as well as the gradual diminishing importance and often complete disappearance of certain jobs. For instance, there once existed human alarm clocks, or people who would visit residential neighborhoods to wake people up for work. Also, at the beginning of the 20th century, saddle makers were the most respected individuals in town, and it was one of the most popular professions because those who made saddles were extremely esteemed and beneficial to the community. Today, a hundred years later, many do not even know what a saddle is, let alone about saddle makers.
—
—– The example of saddle makers conveys a unique message. Regardless of the fact that this profession has almost entirely disappeared, a timeless message remains: if you are skilled with your hands, in creating certain specifics that people or, in the case of the future, robots and artificial intelligence need, then this will certainly be required in the era of digitalization. Thus, robots also need skilled, quality craftsmanship and the creative shaping of human hands in some form, as does artificial intelligence – says Sanela Dropulić, futurologist of entrepreneurship and sociological relations.
Resistant to Technology
Although technology strongly influences trends and movements in the labor market, causing people to fear that they are the ones who will soon be replaced by some machine, there are professions that are, by all accounts, resistant to changes in technology and economic circumstances. Primarily, these are professions that involve working with people, or creative, interactive, and emotionally demanding jobs, such as medical, educational, or artistic professions. Associate Professor Dr. Martin Žagar, scientific advisor at RIT Croatia, believes that irreplaceable professions are those in which human contact plays a key role in meeting user needs.
—
—– Whether it is a professor who, in addition to imparting knowledge, has a key pedagogical role in the development of an individual, or professionals in the health sector – says Žagar.
However, it should be noted that even these industries and professions are subject to some degree of technological influence and change. Therefore, no matter how secure our job may seem at this moment, we must constantly listen to what is happening in the labor market, educate ourselves, and develop new skills.
Disruptors of Industries
Today, there is no industry or market that has not been disrupted by technological changes and innovations, and these changes occur so quickly and frequently that there is almost no time for analysis and conclusions.
– Questions about job loss or creation should be viewed in the context of the characteristics of the world we live in and the context of the knowledge and skills required by today’s dynamic way of life. In this sense, we certainly speak about the importance of a good combination of hard skills, but also increasingly important soft skills. At the same time, we must expand the knowledge base, which is achieved through multidisciplinary education because the problems we face are extremely complex and require us to view them in a different, broader, and more creative way – says Žagar.
Education, whether formal or informal, will, it seems, be the most important factor in keeping pace with the rapid advancement of technology. Žagar states that we are already collectively lagging behind in the knowledge and skills necessary to manage technology.
– Education for solving future challenges is not a one-time task, but must be systematic and continuous. As a certain version of technology is updated, we must also update our knowledge about it. Precisely for this reason, lifelong learning is becoming the norm, not an option – adds Žagar.
The key question is not how to defend ourselves from machines, but what processes we need to learn to manage them. Therefore, there is a need for some new (especially in the domestic field), higher-quality education that will recognize, accept, and integrate the processes of automation, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and life in an IoT world, and develop the structure and foundations that will provide people with sufficient knowledge to utilize and manage that technology and processes.
More Frequent Changes
Although many fear the negative effects of advanced technology and the threats they pose to careers and jobs, anyone who is willing to invest in their skills, acquire new knowledge, and adapt should not have problems, at least in theory. For now, that is all we have left: preparation and readiness for change.
– Flexibility and readiness to change careers will also be an important imperative in the future labor market because today, more than ever before, it is important not to focus on one very narrow career area – says Dropulić and adds that trends show we will change employers and professions more frequently than before.
– The main source of changes in the next ten years, when we talk about future professions, will be demographic changes as there are more and more older people and fewer children being born. The healthcare sector is collapsing in terms of personnel, interest in personal finance is increasing, green technologies are growing, and technological advancement is evolving – he adds.
Žagar states that it is still difficult to accurately predict what will happen in the next ten years, but it is enough to look ten years into the past and see how much has changed.
– However, in the next few years, the sought-after professions will certainly include specialists in artificial intelligence and machine learning, data scientists, information security analysts, digital transformation specialists, fintech engineers specializing in process automation, and many other similar professions – concludes Žagar.
