According to McKinsey, in affluent nations, a mere 14 percent of jobs are classified as “highly automatable”. More importantly, only 5 percent of occupations stand the risk of becoming “entirely automatable”. At first glance, these figures might seem encouraging. However, when considering the global scale, the predictions suggest that by 2030, robots and automated systems could render anywhere between 375 to 700 million jobs redundant.

So, what does this mean for us?

Our history as a species is punctuated by moments of significant technological shifts. From the Industrial Revolution to the digital age, each transformation brought about its own set of challenges and opportunities. The key has always been adaptability. Every time the world changed, humans found a way to reposition themselves, tap into new skill sets, and find relevance in the altered landscape.

Machines might be good at some tasks, but they can't replace everything humans can do. People can understand feelings, be creative, and make decisions in ways that machines can't.

We might need to think about how we teach and learn so we're ready for the future. It's not just about knowing things, but also about understanding people, being creative, and being able to change and learn new things.

In the end, machines and robots are just one part of the story. We've always found ways to move forward when things change. As we think about the future, we should remember our skills, our history, and our ability to adapt and find new ways to be valuable. Let us continue to adapt, innovate, and thrive.

If you want to learn more, here are a few online courses and guides:

Courses:

“Future of Work: Preparing for Disruption" - World Bank on edX

"Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work" - Udemy

Guides:

"Preparing for the Automated Future: A Guide for Professionals" - Forbes Insights

"Automation and the Future of Work"- Medium's Future of Work Publication