The swift technological advancement has transformed the job market by generating new job opportunities and rendering some skills outdated simultaneously. Therefore, workers are at risk of being unemployed as a result of automation, as Darrell M. West predicts in his, The Future of Work book. In addition, Andrew Yang, an ex-presidential aspirant, also believes that the technological trends are alarming and has called for new solutions to prevent an extraordinary crisis. In my view, the solution to the unemployment caused by automation is a mixture of interventions like reskilling, implementing the universal basic income, and increasing investment in training and education plans. This essay assesses the possible solutions that can be used to ensure that society can survive amidst the growing use of robots and Artificial Intelligence and related problems.
In the first chapter of The Future of Work, West explores the problem of joblessness and its effect on the economy. West argues that new technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence are swiftly changing the workplace, resulting in declining demand for some skills and jobs. The technological unemployment phenomenon will likely deteriorate in the future, with an approximated 1 to 3 employees at risk of unemployment due to automation in the next twelve years. Moreover, West suggests that while new opportunities will be generated in the future, these will need different qualifications and skills, leaving many American employees behind. As a result, this situation needs innovative approaches to reskill employees and give them the necessary tools to adapt to the evolving job market.
Andrew Yang proposes one possible response to this issue as the execution of universal basic income (UBI). He claims that universal basic income is necessary to give a safety net for employees whose jobs are taken by automation. According to him, UBI would give them a definite income that would assist them in affording their basic living or the freedom to pursue other courses and obtain new skill sets. Moreover, universal basic income would arouse the economy by offering a source of demand and raising people’s expenditure, generating new job openings. West backs this idea by stating that “society must create more mechanisms for providing social protection to workers and citizens (West 7).” Nevertheless, universal basic income is not an all-inclusive solution to the issue of automation. Therefore, investing in training programs that enrich people with novel skills and prepare employees for future jobs is essential.
As West pronounces, “Skills development must become an integral part of work and education policy (West 7).” One way of actualizing this could be by creating partnerships with employee-educational institutions that offer employees the required skills to thrive in the upcoming job market. Another solution that can be executed is passing policies that promote the creation of new businesses and job segments. For instance, West states the significance of investing in green technologies and renewable energy, which can generate millions of new opportunities and simultaneously reduce the consequences of climate change. These strategies will generate new opportunities for employees and mitigate the loss of jobs to automation in the current job market. Moreover, designing a more elastic labor market that enables employees to cope with the evolving job qualifications and a safety net that offers support amidst the transition is critical.
West discusses Yang’s ideas about organizational culture and management in the fourth chapter of The Future of Work. Per West, conventional hierarchical management structures are no longer efficient in the ever-changing business atmosphere, and firms must assume a more aggressive, decentralized management strategy (West 65). He argues that firms must prioritize worker empowerment and engagement and develop a culture that embraces innovation, experimentation, and risk-taking. An important aspect of West’s tactic is the notion of ‘holacracy.’ This idea replaces conventional hierarchies with roles and self-organization. Moreover, in this system, workers are offered more freedom to make choices that impact their work and the entire firm. The ‘holacracy’ approach is created to improve worker innovation and engagement while mitigating bureaucracy and increasing organizational agility.
An extra key idea of West’s strategy is the significance of company culture. He argues that a robust company culture is vital for attracting and retaining skilled employees and developing a sense of belonging and purpose among workers (West 72). In order to build a firm company culture, West stresses the significance of legitimacy, transparency, and values alignment. Therefore, firms must be open about their plans and goals and communicate transparently with workers. Furthermore, they must be legitimate and authentic in their words and actions and align their values with their workers. West’s main argument in chapter four of The Future of Work is that businesses prioritizing organizational agility, employee empowerment, or robust company culture have high chances of long-term success and retaining or attracting top talents.
In Chapter 8, West expounds on the effects of artificial intelligence on the economy and employment. West expounds on the ideas of Yang by predicting that “AI will impact all industries, and the most significant impact will be on jobs that are routine and repetitive (West 121). He further claims that while artificial intelligence will create new jobs, it will also eradicate current jobs, causing a dramatic change in the job market. Moreover, West highlights the significance of retraining and upskilling employees to stay competitive. He states that “workers will need to adapt to new technologies and become more skilled in areas machines cannot do, such as creativity, empathy, and human interaction (West 125). West’s ideas are backed by Yang, who argues that “we need to prepare our workforce for jobs that do not yet exist, using technologies that have not yet been invented, to solve problems that we do not even know are problems yet (West 123). Furthermore, West discusses the role of lawmakers in solving problems related to artificial intelligence. He states lawmakers should prioritize pushing policies that encourage investment in training programs to help employees transition to emerging industries and jobs. Furthermore, West emphasizes the need to promote innovation and entrepreneurship to generate new openings.
In addition to these strategies, there are possibilities for creating new industries and jobs that are associated with recent technologies. The eighth chapter of The Future of Work West claims “many jobs and industries that are emerging due to technological change (West 125).” For instance, creating self-driving vehicles will lead to new data analysis, engineering, and software development openings. Besides, advancing the renewable energy industry will generate employment in wind turbine maintenance, solar panel installation, and energy storage technology. Therefore, by investing in these upcoming industries, ne jobs can be generated for employees whose skills might be rendered obsolete by automation.
In conclusion, robotics and Artificial intelligence pose a significant problem to society’s stability, endangering millions of employees’ lives. Nevertheless, it presents an opportunity to generate new industries and jobs to drive economic advancement and enhance the quality of life. In order to deal with these problems, it is vital to implement a mixture of interventions like reskilling, investing in education programs, and initiating universal basic income. Moreover, it is vital to encourage firms to invest in their workers and design a more elastic labor market that allows employees to adapt to evolving job demands. By taking these measures, society will be able to thrive and operate well in the wake of technological advancement.
Work Cited
West, Darrell M. The future of work: Robots, AI, and automation. Brookings Institution Press, 2018.
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