Robotics is a technology that has had a stronghold on the imagination of the public for decades. While ideas about how robotics could change the world have been around for years, the technological field is now starting to actually affect the world in meaningful and impactful ways.
One of the most profound ways in which robotics is revolutionizing the world is in the job market. With more and more industries integrating robotics technology into common practices, and the application of robotics becoming more common in general, a number of newly trained professionals will be needed to step into new roles that require specific types of expertise in robotics — while some roles are likely to disappear entirely as a result.
The New Role of Robotics in Healthcare
The healthcare industry is one that depends on innovation in order to provide the highest quality care to a wide variety of people. As such, new forms of technology can often find practical application and adoption in the industry. Robotics is no different, and as a technology, it is beginning to cause a seismic shift in medicine, with robotics in healthcare slowly becoming a new reality.
Several different types of medical robots are now being developed to make medical care more efficient, accurate and accessible. Ranging from robots that perform surgery to robots that service inpatients in hospitals, these new technological advances will likely radically reshape the healthcare job market.
As more medical robots are developed and utilized, the fewer human employees the healthcare industry may need. While this may seem bleak, it can actually come with a number of benefits, such as more consistent healthcare and a solution to labor shortages in the industry.
While some traditional roles may risk being downsized as a result of robotics, new roles will also arise in the healthcare industry as a result. Robotics requires humans to program and maintain them. As a result, any medical facility utilizing robotics will need trained professionals to ensure that all robotics are running smoothly at any given time.
In addition to in-house robotics technicians, the rise of medical robots will likely come with a rise of medical robotics companies developing similar products. This being the case, a variety of new roles and job positions will likely flood the healthcare labor market, creating new opportunities for people to find and pursue different careers in the industry.
The Possible Role of Robotics in Security
As we’ve slowly moved into a new age, new forms of crime and crime fighting have come along with it. For example, as a result of an increasingly digitized world, cybercriminals have begun to become more of a threat, while new forms of digital criminal investigation, such as digital forensics, have arisen in response.
Security robots are now being used to guard a number of settings ranging from healthcare facilities to financial offices. The job of security guard — which previously required a human — is now beginning to require only robots.
At this point in time, security robots are being utilized on a relatively small scale. While they’ve proven useful, large-scale adoption does not seem like it will happen overnight. However, as the technology of security robots becomes better and more people become open to the idea, the next ten years could see a dramatic drop in the availability of security positions for humans.
While in some cases a human security officer may still be necessary, many low-stakes security officer positions will likely disappear in the coming decade. As a result, the job market in the field of security may suffer a serious blow.
Though the decrease of security jobs for humans can be a disheartening subject, the silver lining is that — like in the healthcare industry — a slew of new roles will become available for professionals who develop and maintain security robots. Once security robots begin to be adopted on a larger scale, more companies will begin funneling resources into developing and producing new iterations of these robots.
As a result of this, many new jobs will be created which could prove to have a positive impact on the job market in the field of security.
The Pros and Cons of Robotics and Its Effects on the Job Market
While robotics is an exciting field that could bring revolutionary innovations to many industries, some are fearful of the consequences of the large-scale adoption of robotics technology.
The pros of robotics becoming more popular include new automation innovations in a number of industries and new jobs associated with developing, producing and maintaining these new products. Those who are in favor of introducing more robotics into various industries believe that these changes will ultimately have a beneficial impact on the world and mankind.
Alternatively, those who are skeptical about the large-scale adoption of robotics across industries typically site the replacement of humans with robots as the main cause for concern. These individuals make a valid point, as it is likely true that many job roles will disappear as a result of the large-scale adoption of robotics across industries.
Also Read: How artificial intelligence (AI) impacts education
Regardless of one’s opinions, it seems as if the field of robotics is here to stay. Various forms of robotics are beginning to be applied in new ways and are proving to be practical solutions to a variety of problems. As such, whether one is for or against robotics, it will likely have a significant impact on the job market throughout the next decade.
Stepping Into a New World
New innovations in the field of robotics are bringing powerful solutions to problems across industries. While this may cause some jobs to disappear, it will also bring with it a number of new roles and industries as well. The next decade is likely to see dramatic changes in the job market as a result of robotics.
Regardless of one’s opinions, everyone needs to brace themselves for the inevitable changes that the large-scale implementation of robotics will bring with it.
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