From: Yahoo!Finance By Rick Newman
The
economy should muddle forward in 2016, with employers likely to match or exceed
the 2.6 million jobs created during the last 12 months. But the mix of jobs
will continue to shift, for one big reason we’re all very familiar with by now:
the digital revolution.
McKinsey & Co. estimated recently that 45% of all activities humans perform in the workplace can be done by software or machines that already exist. That portion will most likely rise in the future. And it’s no longer just rote mechanical jobs that are vulnerable to automation. Even CEOs spend their time doing work that can be automated, according to McKinsey.
In many industries, robots may end up working
alongside humans rather than replacing them completely. But workers in some
industries seem especially vulnerable to technology. These are 5 categories of
jobs, for instance, in which McKinsey estimates that somewhere between 85%
and 100% of the labor can be done by machines rather than humans (Most Endangered):
Bookkeeping, accounting, auditing and billing
clerks. Number of workers: 2.1 million. Software can
now help individuals and small businesses track their bills, invoices, expenses
and taxes, replacing the clerical staff who do much of this basic work. There's
still strong demand for more sophisticated auditors and accountants who deal
with complex tax and financial situations.
Mechanics and automotive technicians. Number of workers: 740,000. Vehicles are loaded with
software these days, and fixing problems often requires digital updates rather
than mechanical fixes. As more vehicles become connected to the Internet,
software updates will be beamed straight to the vehicle, with no visit to the
dealership required.
Construction equipment operators. Number of workers: 340,000. Increasingly efficient
machines get more accomplished with fewer people—plus, robotic dozers and
graders are on the way.
Bakers and butchers. Number of workers: 300,000. These might seem like
hands-on jobs, but machinery now requires little but professional oversight.
Many of the jobs lost in these and other
fields will be offset by newly created jobs, many of them relating to the
digital technology that’s transforming the workplace. But some jobs that have
been around for a while still seem safe. Here are 5 categories of jobs in which
little or none of the work can be automated, according to McKinsey. (Least Endangered):
Freight, stock and material movers. Number of workers: 2.3 million. A lot of transportation
work can be done by conveyor belts and other machines, but moving stuff around
still requires a lot of people to maintain cargo facilities, handle pop-up
problems, maintain equipment and supervise it all.
Management / financial analyst. Number of workers: 570,000. These professionals
make strategic decisions based on data, financial performance and company
priorities.
Sales managers. Number of workers: 375,000. It still takes a human
touch to oversee the people who bring in revenue and generate new business.
Clergy. Number
of workers: 45,000. A robotic minister? Don’t think so.
