By Joe Speicher
Even before the pandemic, businesses across the globe were embracing automation as a solution to the skills shortages facing so many industries. The arrival of COVID-19 accelerated digital transformation, and in many cases the adoption of automation, for organizations who suddenly had to deal with remote workforces and worker proximity issues as an added challenge. The debate about automation has raged for years—does it displace those workers whose jobs can be easily replaced by an automated solution? Or does it create opportunity for those workers to up-level their skills, work alongside automation, and subsequently do more interesting work?
Autodesk Launches Global Research Program Exploring Future of Work
To further explore the issue, Autodesk will be releasing a number of research studies this summer. They will explore the state of automation, skills development, and the future of work across multiple industries and geographies. The first report, “The Future of Work is Now: Is APAC Ready?” is available today.
Autodesk’s view has long been that automation creates opportunity, but only if we are deliberate about giving workers the skills they need to thrive in a new era of automation. That means new credentialing and certification programs to give them the skills they need to succeed, partnerships across the public and private sector to make workforce development a priority, and much more.
State of Preparedness in APAC
APAC is home to 60% of the global workforce and the world’s largest developing economies. The Autodesk Foundation and Deloitte embarked on this joint project to help identify the labor markets most vulnerable to technological disruption in APAC and, in doing so, propose solutions to help workforces thrive as automation becomes a reality.
It’s undeniable that automation will cause disruption—but the state of preparedness of countries and industries will determine whether they benefit from these advances. Digitization and automation will affect all workers to some extent. But which industries and countries are most prepared?
The report highlights that not every industry is equally well placed to capitalize. Those at the highest risk of automation are frequently the ones least likely to be able to seize the benefits. Deloitte identified construction as the industry likely to be hardest hit by automation, largely due to the high proportion of routine, manual tasks. Mining, manufacturing and transport were highlighted as industries in APAC facing similar challenges.
View the full report here.
