Automation and AI affect almost every imaginable job, including blog post writing. It seems nobody is exempt.

You must know how to prepare if you’re looking for a job in today’s business climate. 

Please let me supply a few lists of things you should know before going forward in your job search. 

But before you read these lists, know that automation often increases the number of jobs available and improves the quality of employment. In the long run, your job satisfaction may significantly improve.

Automation changes the workplace dramatically, and you must prepare to adapt to this reality. You may need to change jobs to survive.

Still, you can prepare for a successful future.

So, let’s look at the impact of automation on today’s jobs and see what you can do about it.

Job Categories Most Affected by Automation

Keep in mind that while some positions will be eliminated and some will change, others will be invented to take their place. 

Lifelong learning is not just a cliché. It’s the path to success. You must stay informed of the rapid progress in business technology and how it will affect your job choices.

You may wish to become more technology-savvy yourself. 

Also, nurturing the human skills that complement automation will ensure a bright future.

Let’s look at some of the changes coming.

The Automation Impact List

This list is long. 25 items. This is not a complete list.

Note how many jobs and industries are represented. Some pay well, and some are entry-level jobs. Mid-level jobs are changing, too.

All of these industries and jobs will be altered by automation and AI. 

  1. Retail and Customer Service: cashiers, salespeople, customer service representatives.
  2. Manufacturing and Production: assembly line workers, machine operators, quality control inspectors.
  3. Transportation and Delivery: freight, taxi, and delivery service drivers.
  4. Office and Administrative Support: data entry clerks, administrative assistants, receptionists.
  5. Banking and Financial Services: bank tellers, loan officers, insurance underwriters.
  6. Fast Food and Quick Service Restaurants: cooks, servers, and food preparation workers.
  7. Agriculture: farm workers involved in planting, harvesting, and sorting.
  8. Construction and Extraction: bricklayers, painters, demolition.
  9. Warehousing and Logistics: stock handlers, packers, material moving workers.
  10. Telemarketing and Call Centers: roles that handle customer inquiries and sales calls.
  11. Accounting and Bookkeeping: transaction recording, payroll, and auditing tasks.
  12. Healthcare Administration: medical billing and coding, appointment scheduling, patient data management.
  13. Publishing and Journalism: Content creation, proofreading, editing.
  14. Legal Services: document review, legal research, basic drafting tasks.
  15. Real Estate: agents and brokers.
  16. Education: administrative and certain instructional tasks.
  17. Security: monitoring, surveillance, anomaly detection.
  18. Human Resources: resume screening, initial interviews, employee onboarding.
  19. Entertainment and Media: ticketing, content recommendation, content creation.
  20. Travel and Hospitality: booking agents, hotel clerks, tour operators.
  21. Utilities Management: meter reading, utility inspections.
  22. Postal and Shipping Services: sorting and delivery tasks.
  23. Market Research and Data Analysis: most traditional roles.
  24. Environmental and Sanitation Services: waste sorting, cleaning tasks.
  25. Pharmaceuticals and Lab Technicians: drug dispensing, routine laboratory tests.

What Tasks Are Being Automated?

Certain types of tasks are easier to automate than others. This list indicates those tasks most likely to be eliminated by automation and AI now and in the future. 

  • Repetitive Physical Tasks
  • Data Collection and Processing
  • Routine Administrative Functions
  • Simple Customer Service Interactions
  • Transactional Financial Tasks
  • Predictive and Analytical Tasks
  • Content Creation and Management
  • Transportation and Delivery
  • Quality Control and Inspection
  • Research and Information Retrieval

What Tasks Can’t Be Automated?

Uniquely human skills can’t be automated. But what are uniquely human skills? 

What tasks do technology and AI fail to automate successfully?

Skills less likely to be replaced by automation or AI typically involve complex decision-making, emotional intelligence, creativity, high-level strategic planning, or physical dexterity beyond current technological capabilities.

These skills include:

  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Creative and Innovative Work
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Advanced Negotiation
  • Personalized Customer Experiences
  • High-level Strategic Planning
  • Scientific Discovery and Research
  • Complex Legal Reasoning
  • Healthcare Decision-Making
  • Human Resources and Management
  • Art and Design
  • Education and Training
  • Physical Skills and Dexterity
  • Ethical Decision-Making
  • Networking and Relationship Building
  • Crisis Management
  • Cultural Interpretation and Translation
  • Psychological Assessment and Therapy
  • Urban Planning and Architecture

What to Do About Automation?

You can mitigate the chance of being replaced by automation. Several strategies are available to future-proof yourself. 

You want to position yourself as an invaluable asset in the workforce. If you do this, companies will compete to hire you.

Here’s a list of strategies you might employ to get yourself employed in an automation-proof position.

Acquire Skills in AI and Automation

Understand how these technologies work and how they can be applied in your field.

Focus on Soft Skills

Develop soft skills that are difficult for AI to replicate, such as emotional intelligence, critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, leadership, and interpersonal communication. 

Continuous Learning and Adaptability

Commit to lifelong learning to stay abreast of new technologies and methodologies in your field. 

Specialize in Areas Less Likely to be Automated

Consider roles that involve complex decision-making, emotional labor, or highly creative tasks. 

Enhance Your Technological Fluency

This includes everything from basic digital literacy to advanced skills in data analysis, software development, or digital marketing.

Cultivate a Unique Combination of Skills

Combining your skills can make you more versatile and less likely to be replaced by automation, which often targets more narrowly defined tasks.

Pursue Entrepreneurship or Creative Ventures

Starting your own business or engaging in creative endeavors can offer pathways less prone to automation.

Network and Build Relationships

Human connections can lead to opportunities that might not be widely advertised and can provide insights into industry trends and the future of work.

Get Involved in Strategic Planning and Innovation

Positions that require strategic thinking, planning for the future, and innovation are less likely to be automated.

Stay Informed About Industry Trends

Understanding industry trends can help you anticipate changes in the job market and adapt your career strategy accordingly.

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Have you got questions? Reach out by email.

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