Will Robots Cause Significant Disruption in the Labour Market?

The study found that robots aren't replacing humans at the rate most people think

Disruptive technologies like advanced analytics, advanced robotics, big data, learning machines, the internet of things, 3D printing, and wearables are finding their way into production lines. Notwithstanding the sluggishness of progress on today's plant floors, the digital wave is gradually changing assembling, adding to significant productivity improvements and the rise of innovative production paradigms that deliver more customized and proficient solutions. In the interim, automation is the innovation that empowers machines to play out specific operations. One might easily think that robots are causing disruption in the labour market by replacing human workers, especially when considering examples like chatbots serving as more efficient customer service representatives or computer programs handling package tracking and transportation without human intervention. The question is, will robots cause significant disruption in the labour market? 

According to a study by Eric Dahlin, a sociology professor at Brigham Young University, there is no need to fear an imminent robot takeover of jobs. Dahlin's research suggests that the rate at which robots are replacing humans is not as high as many people believe and that people tend to greatly overestimate the extent to which robots are taking over the workforce.

Robots are causing Disruption in the Labour Market?

An increasingly sophisticated cohort of robots is proving capable of performing a wide array of tasks, from helping the elderly to cleaning home and office floors, and flipping burgers to performing complex surgery. Moreover, tasks in a predictable environment, such as a fast-food restaurant or a factory assembly line, and basic data processing like tracking payroll accounting, could also easily be automated with the help of robots and software available now. They are even managing software developers, supervising their clicks and scrolls, and curtailing their pay if they work too slowly. Modern robots are also capable of listening to call centre workers, recommending to them what and how to respond to customers, and keeping them continually, extremely busy.