If you’re like most people, these changes have probably had you wondering ‘Will a robot take my job?’ more than you’d like to admit.
Although robots can now perform human jobs in the workplace, the need for skills in leadership and management continues to be indispensable. We’ll explore how to keep ahead of the skills shortage with an MBA and the predicted role machines will play in the future of work.
Once upon a time, the thought of robots in the workplace seemed like science fiction. Today, it’s commonplace.
The Covid pandemic ushered in the future of work sooner than expected and our reliance on digitisation and automation snowballed.
We now have machines performing tasks at self-service checkouts and security surveillance, with more change on the horizon. But can AI replace human jobs altogether?
The World Economic Forum conducted a global survey of executives, strategy officers and HR officers in 15 industry sectors to learn about job outlook. They published the findings in the 2020 Future of Jobs report, focusing on the skills that will increase and decrease in demand.
According to the report, machines in the workplace will replace around 85 million human jobs by 2025. These machines include not just humanoid and non-humanoid robots but algorithms, digitised processes and artificial intelligence.
In their report, the WE Forum lists the following as the most likely roles to become redundant as machines start to share labour-intensive responsibilities with humans:
Although confronting to think about at first, these changes are the next logical step when considering the current work landscape. Teams are more remote than ever, our workspaces look different and global collaboration is now more accessible. Moreover, we have begun to rely on automation more out of necessity than by choice.
Rather than shying away from these changes, the best thing to do is adapt and learn to excel at the jobs robots can’t do. There are plenty of worthwhile skills you can acquire that will help secure you a place in the future of work, especially for aspiring leaders.
As efficient as machines are, we will always need humans at work. According to the World Economic Forum, the following skills are in high demand for 2025, and you’ll need to develop them if you want to future-proof your career:
Emerging technologies and the acceleration of automation means the introduction of new roles as well. According to The Future of Jobs report, 97 million new positions — including robotics engineers, AI and machine-learning specialists and Internet of Things specialists — will be critical careers of the future.
The report also highlighted the job titles that are increasing in demand, including Business and Administration Managers and Management and Organisation Analysts.
With an MBA, you’ll be primed for roles like this by acquiring the skills that will be in high demand for 2025.
Predicting the outlook for humans and machines at work will naturally bring on some form of anxiety. However, it gives us good insight into the talents we need to focus on acquiring now in order to secure the best jobs in the future.
As long as you’re prepared to work towards these in-demand skills, there’s no need to wonder ‘Will a robot take my job?’
According to the employers surveyed for The Future of Jobs report, 62% of employees worldwide had the opportunity to upskill or reskill, but only 42% took them up on the offer. Employees need to be proactively upskilling if they wish to stay ahead of the curve and future-proof their career paths.
A modern MBA program teaches the critical skills that the World Economic Forum highlights in its report, including problem-solving, emotional intelligence and analytical thinking. These are essential skills for jobs that won’t be automated, especially in leadership and management roles.
With humans, robots and algorithms sharing the labour in the modern workplace, there’s never been a better time to prepare. Enrolling in an MBA program gives you the tools you need to fill the skills gap and equip yourself for the careers of the future.
If you want to find out more about what an online MBA program can offer in career advancement and future-proofing your role, we can help.
Speak to one of our advisors and get some insight into the skills that will make you a successful leader.
Whether you’re ready to enrol, or just have a quick question, simply fill out the enquiry form below to speak directly to the university’s enrolment team. They will be able to guide you through:
