Impact on Employment 💼

Job displacement

When an employee is removed from their job and replaced

Impact on job displacement

• Manual work is now done by computer-controlled machines e.g self-checkouts

• Repetitive/ tedious jobs can be carried out by robots e.g car manufacturing

• Office jobs require more skill using generic software e.g databases and spreadsheets

Impact on work patterns

• Low skilled jobs lost e.g robots in manufacturing/ warehousing

• Automation of tasks e.g e-commerce

• Skilled, well paying jobs created with more opportunities e.g emerging areas like AI

• Robots increasing productivity as time is not wasted on simple tasks

• Reliance on technology

• Working from home/flexible working hours thanks to teleworking

Reskilling

retraining to acquire skills needed to access the new roles

Teleworking

Using IT and telecommunications to work from home

Examples of teleworking

• Web developers

• Graphic designers

• Accountants

Advantages of digital technology to an employee

1. Allows working from anywhere

2. Work at your own pace with flexible hours

3. Fewer cars on the road and less pollution

4. Saving money on transport to and from work

Disadvantages of digital technology to an employee

1. Feeling isolated from lack of communication and teamwork

2. Need an office at home, adding expenses

3. Distracting environment

4. Less motivation to work

Advantages of digital technology to an employer

1. Do not need to rent offices or pay maintenance

2. Employ a global workforce with cheaper labour

3. No need to hire staff like cleaners/ security

4. Less benefits (parking) and reduced conflict

Disadvantages of digital technology to an employer

1. More difficult to monitor employee activity

2. Potential for leaked information and security risks

3. More discipline towards employees

4. Less collaboration between employees

Upskilling

continuous training to carry out jobs and learn new skills e.g delivery driver becoming a drone operator

Downside of upskilling

employers need to offer training courses to improve retention levels