Digitalisation, automation, robotisation... in recent years, it seems that everything is about these concepts, regardless of the industry. Whether we are talking about the digitalisation of services or the automation and robotisation of production lines, we are talking about the loss of old jobs and the creation of new ones. The question is which process is faster and how we can influence change.
What does digitalisation and digitisation mean for the labour market?
In fact, digitalisation means a change in the space and means of working, so that work that was previously done in analogue is now done digitally.In 2022, it is clear that the pandemic has changed the way many businesses operate, not just in the short term but in the long term, so that many can now do any job they are used to doing remotely. And there is no need to move paperwork around, as digitisation and electronic document management it is less and less necessary to have a physical copy of each invoice or contract.
However, digital life is also often accompanied by automation, as increasingly sophisticated software based on artificial intelligence no longer necessarily requires human intervention. Not only can a machine do a faster and more precise job than a human on a production line, but it can also perform better in the healthcare, finance or even transport sectors.
Will it take jobs or cause labour shortages?
In fact, digitalisation is causing the loss of many traditional jobs as well as labour shortages. It is not only common nowadays for people to shop online, but also to use digital interfaces in individual shops or even fast-food restaurants. But it is not only in the areas that are visible in everyday life. It is clear from various studies that unskilled or low-skilled jobs can be automated to a large extent.
But digitisation is not a process in itself. Digital innovation requires highly skilled professionals, which is in short supply even in the developed world. Whether it is data analysts, software engineers or people who can manage the software and hardware that does the work, the shortage of labour in these specialised areas is becoming more and more tangible.
What can be done?
The importance of education must be taken more seriously than ever if the tens, or rather hundreds of thousands, of people who are losing their jobs are to find new jobs, and if the process of digitalisation is to be sustainable. It is now clear that more emphasis needs to be placed on the acquisition of basic programming skills and algorithmic thinking from an early age, and that learning should not end for anyone when they leave school.