Millions of organizations are grappling with the unprecedented labor shortage sweeping the United States. Robotics is emerging as the solution, and it may change employment forever. Some wonder, though, if robots are truly fixing the labor shortage or stealing jobs from people who need them. The answer reveals fascinating insights about where robotics and employment are headed.
Is Robotics Actually Taking Jobs?
In the past, robots were often framed as a threat to valuable jobs, slowly making it harder for people to find employment. That perception has completely changed over the last couple of years, though. The U.S. is in the midst of ”’the Great Resignation with millions of Americans unemployed and thousands more quitting their jobs every month. They are leaving for a variety of reasons, from starting their own businesses to changing careers and everything in between.
This leaves employers in a tight spot. They either have to offer higher pay to convince employees to stay, or find another solution for their labor needs. Robots have emerged as the top solution to labor shortages. Persistent labor shortages have since debunked the idea that robots are somehow ”’stealing’ jobs from humans. On the contrary robots are enabling humans to go after the jobs they truly want.
What Roles Are Robots Filling?
The deployment of robots in the workforce is concentrated in several specific industries and job types. In general, robots are well suited to perform manual labor, repetitive tasks, or dangerous jobs. In addition to physical robots, such as rovers or robotic arms, artificial intelligence algorithms are unlocking robotic process automation in a number of roles, as well.
Water Treatment
Robots are helping the water industry in a variety of ways. For example, robots can be used to autonomously clean the inside of storage tanks at wastewater treatment facilities. This is not a job many people would want to do manually and it may even be dangerous.
With a robot, no human entry into the tank is needed. Similarly, robots have been developed to swim through pipes and autonomously detect leaks.
Outdoor Labor
Manual labor tasks are among the most common roles people are likely to quit during the Great Resignation. Luckily, many robots are ready to fill these unoccupied positions and maybe even help the environment along the way.
For example, robot lawn mowers are being used to fill labor shortages in landscaping. With an electric mower, operators save on fuel and reduce emissions while caring for their natural scenery.
Manufacturing
One of the first applications for robotics in the workforce was manufacturing, and it remains an extremely popular sector with robotics.
With many manufacturers losing workers at the same time they are trying to improve sustainability initiatives, robots provide a solution on several fronts. For example, startup AMP Robotics has raised over $16 million dollars for its recycling facility robotics tech.
Customer Service
Artificial intelligence has evolved significantly over recent years, pushing it far beyond simplistic chatbots. Thanks to machine learning and natural language processing, AI algorithms can now effectively fill customer service roles in a variety of industries.
These algorithms are capable of processing and responding with natural speech patterns, enabling them to answer most questions successfully. This allows companies to have a small team of human customer service agents, supported by AI agents.
Hospitality
Interestingly, robots are finding success in hospitality roles, in everything from food to caretaking. For example, a robot has been developed that can autonomously make pizzas, serving one of the largest markets in the food industry.
Meanwhile, AI-powered robot Stevie helps nurses in senior living facilities by socializing with residents, playing games with them, and helping to monitor their well-being.
Agriculture
Robots are even taking to the outdoors and filling critical roles in the agriculture industry. Agricultural jobs can be perfect for robots since they often consist of repetitive manual labor.
One agricultural robot that made headlines in 2021 was an apple harvesting robot that can pick one apple every seven seconds. The robot uses a camera and AI to detect if the apples are ripe yet before picking them.
A Labor-Free Future
Robots are revolutionizing the job market. In fact, they are revolutionizing it so much that some theorists believe robots could one day power a labor-free workforce, where everyone receives a basic minimum income and is free to pursue whatever career they wish.
In the midst of today’s labor shortages, robots are no longer our competition, but our allies and co-workers helping to build a better workforce for tomorrow.
