Survey found two out of five employees are worried about losing their jobs due to increased automation of roles
DUBLIN: Employees around the world are fearful of losing their jobs in the coming years due to increased automation of roles. According to a survey of 32,500 workers in 19 countries (Ireland was not included) by professional service group PwC, two-fifths believe they will lose their jobs in the next five years. The survey also found that nearly half of employees believe that traditional jobs will no longer exist in the future.
The survey, conducted in January and February, found that while two in five employees are concerned about job loss due to increased automisation, 80% are confident in their ability to respond to emerging technology entering their workplace.
About 40% of employees said they were able to improve their technical skills during the lockdown and that they would continue to train and develop their skills. The report indicates that the pandemic had no impact on technical learning in the workplace, despite the fact that it forced thousands of people to work from home.
Three-quarters of those surveyed in the UK, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Poland, Spain, South Africa, and the United States said they are ready to learn new skills or fully re-train. They also consider training as a personal responsibility.
Only 25% of those employed in retail and 20% in transport were able to improve their digital skills. At the same time, 42% of employees at the banking sector were able to improve their digital skills.
Gerard McDonough, partner at PwC Ireland, said that the government and business leaders need to work together to strengthen efforts to ensure that people in the most risky industries and groups are getting the opportunities they need. “If current patterns in access to training persist, up-skilling will increase social inequality when it should be doing precisely the opposite,” he added.
The report also discovered that half of all employees were subjected to workplace discrimination. This resulted in a loss of opportunities for advancement or training. About 13% said they were denied opportunities because of their ethnicity. Meanwhile, 14% of staff reported experiencing gender discrimination.
This survey included business owners, contract employees, students, unemployed people searching for jobs, and those on furlough or who were temporarily laid off.
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