Skilled labor activities
Automation potential is increasing
According to a study, the automation potential of human labor is constantly increasing. The potential is increasing, especially for skilled labor.
According to a study, the possibilities for automating human work have increased. Even more complex activities could increasingly be taken over by machines and computers, according to a study presented on Tuesday by the Nuremberg Institute for Employment Research. The proportion of skilled jobs that can potentially already be performed by computers rose by 4.6% between 2016 and 2019 and by as much as 4.8% for specialist jobs. More and more automation is possible, particularly in the security and retail sectors.
There was only a rise of 0.7 percentage points in the already highly automated helper activities. However, the potential for automation is still highest in this field. Overall, 60% of work in this field could be automated. This figure is around 45% for specialist occupations and around 26% for expert occupations. The following principle still applies: "The higher the level of requirements in the occupation, the lower the proportion of activities that can be automated," said Britta Matthes from the IAB. She is the head of the Professions in Transformation research group at the IAB.
Quality before automation
The technologies that have become market-ready in recent years are more geared towards replacing more complex activities, said Matthes. At 84%, the highest degree of automation can be achieved in manufacturing professions. In contrast, the potential in social professions and cultural services is rather low at 13%. Whether the existing automation potential will be exploited is not certain. If human labor is cheaper or of better quality than that of a robot, for example, then automation will not take place.
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