Category: Automation Impact on Jobs

Q&A: How should the labor movement handle the challenges of AI, automation at work?

Q&A: How should the labor movement handle the challenges of AI, automation at work?

Credit: University of Illinois Press Robert Bruno is a professor of labor and employment relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal, a research-based initiative tasked with investigating labor policies in today’s economy.

Bruno, the author of the book "What Work Is," spoke with News Bureau business and law editor Phil Ciciora about how the labor movement should grapple with the rise of artificial intelligence and automation on the job. How do you foresee organized labor dealing with the challenges that technology such as automation and artificial intelligence pose to the […]

Regulatory Burden Falls Hardest on the Poor

Regulatory Burden Falls Hardest on the Poor

Print A young man sits outside a small, discount barber shop in Natchez, Mississippi. 1935. Three decades ago, few economists would speak against free trade or automation. Those who raised concerns about job displacements were met by replies that price reductions would compensate in the short run while higher incomes elsewhere in the economy meant new (and better) opportunities for everyone in the medium-run.

This is no longer the case. Many economists, most notably Nobel laureate Angus Deaton , have soured on free trade and automation. They argue that “big shocks,” like the rapid expansion of China (and its significant […]

Impact of Automation on Jobs in 2024

Impact of Automation on Jobs in 2024

New Developments in Job Automation in the Present Year

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize the workforce, with recent advancements showcasing its potential to transform various professions. A diverse range of occupations, from creative roles like journalism to technical fields such as engineering, are witnessing the integration of AI technologies, reshaping traditional job functions.

Shift Towards Digitally Augmented Work Environments In a departure from previous trends, the impact of AI is now more pronounced in high-skilled sectors, including scientific and IT domains, highlighting the growing adaptability of machines in complex decision-making processes. Contrary to fears of widespread job displacement, […]

How should labor movement handle the challenges of AI, automation at work?

How should labor movement handle the challenges of AI, automation at work?

Robert Bruno, a professor of labor and employment relations at the Urbana campus of the University of Illinois and the director of the Labor Education Program in Chicago. Robert Bruno is a professor of labor and employment relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal , a research-based initiative tasked with investigating labor policies in today’s economy. Bruno, the author of the book “What Work Is,” spoke with News Bureau business and law editor Phil Ciciora about how the labor movement should grapple with the rise of artificial intelligence and […]

AI: The catalyst for career transformation

AI: The catalyst for career transformation

(Image credit: Shutterstock) As AI technologies continue to advance rapidly, redefining our roles will be essential to staying relevant in the evolving landscape of work and business. When AI became widely accessible, it began a transformative era for business and tech. While some viewed it as a challenge, others, like myself, saw it as an exciting opportunity. This perspective highlights why embracing technological revolutions is crucial.

Matti Yahav

Chief Marketing Officer at Fiverr. The evolution of jobs: from vinyl to virtual Over the last few decades, work and technology have undergone drastic changes. In the 1980s, jobs like working in record […]

How should labor movement handle the challenges of AI, automation at work?

How should labor movement handle the challenges of AI, automation at work?

Robert Bruno, a professor of labor and employment relations at the Urbana campus of the University of Illinois and the director of the Labor Education Program in Chicago. Robert Bruno is a professor of labor and employment relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal , a research-based initiative tasked with investigating labor policies in today’s economy. Bruno, the author of the book “What Work Is,” spoke with News Bureau business and law editor Phil Ciciora about how the labor movement should grapple with the rise of artificial intelligence and […]

The Future of ‘Work’ in the Global North and Global South

future of work For my offspring and the children of friends here and elsewhere in the Global North and South, I worry about what future jobs will be available for them. I decided to look at some of the most critical factors.

Work in the Global North and Global South is poised to undergo a significant transformation due to multiple factors, including demographic shifts, technological advances, and climate change. Whether called “work” or “labor,” the focus is on producing goods and services from human efforts, whether physical exertion or mental efforts, with or without non-human assistance, done in exchange […]

The Impact of AI on Employment: A New Perspective

The Impact of AI on Employment: A New Perspective

Technology in the form of AI has reshaped various aspects of our lives, with the job market and the tech industry being significantly affected. Many now worry about the potential replacement of human workers by advanced technology.

As artificial intelligence continues to advance, concerns grow about its implications for the workforce. While some argue that AI will create new job opportunities and enhance productivity, others fear widespread job displacement. Companies like Amazon are at the forefront of integrating AI into their operations, leading to speculation about the future of human employment.

However, amidst these apprehensions lies an opportunity for […]

Future-Proofing Careers: How AI and Job Redesign Are Transforming the Modern Workplace

Future-Proofing Careers: How AI and Job Redesign Are Transforming the Modern Workplace

Artificial intelligence (AI) has already started and will change the workplace forever. The prevailing question among workers and industry leaders has shifted from “Will AI replace my job?” to “When will AI impact my job?” This subtle yet profound change in inquiry underscores a recognition of AI’s inevitable integration into various sectors and emphasizes the need for strategic adaptation rather than resistance. Let’s delve into how AI and Generative AI reshape job landscapes, the implications for workforce training, and strategies for thriving in an AI-augmented workplace.

Incremental Impact of AI on Jobs

The capacity of AI to automate tasks […]

The world will not be without work because of AI

The world will not be without work because of AI

Representational image | Commons In 1983, Wassily Leontief, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, concluded that human labour would go the way of the horse after the automobile arrived – “first diminished and then eliminated.”

Today, a new wave of doomsaying has emerged surrounding “technological unemployment” as AI, with its promise of business innovation, has marched to the forefront of economic debate. Pundits argue we’re now drifting towards a “ world without work ” where machines produce all things and algorithms provide all services. Outclassed humans serve no role in this macroeconomic dystopia.

As we argue in Shocks, Crises, and False Alarms , […]