Automation solutions are needed to help the economy and industry recover quickly. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), robotics will play a key role in this. By 2022, around four million industrial robots are expected to be in use in factories worldwide. The global robotics association is therefore calling for education and training programs to be adapted. "Governments and companies around the world should focus on teaching the skills needed to work with robots and smart automation systems," says Milton Guerry, President of the IFR. "This is necessary to fully exploit the potential of these technologies. The economic recovery in the post-corona period will accelerate the demand for robotics. Political and private sector strategies are needed to pave the way to a more automated economy for workers."

More training and further education courses in demand

At the moment, only a few countries are proactively adapting their education systems to the age of automation, according to a press release from the World Robotics Association. Saadia Zahidi, an expert on education, gender and employment initiatives at the World Economic Forum, summarizes: "The successful countries have long focused on developing human capital. Some northern European countries, as well as Singapore, are probably conducting the most meaningful experiments on the world of work of the future."

According to the "Automation Readiness Index" published by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), only four countries have a mature education policy that already meets the challenges of an automated economy. South Korea leads this ranking, followed by Estonia, Singapore and Germany. Countries such as Japan, the USA and France are classified as developed - China still ranks as an emerging country.

According to the EIU, the governments' agenda must now include Multi-stakeholder dialogs, more training and international exchange of experience. As a short-term strategy at company level, a change in recruitment policy is an option: "If you can't find experienced employees, you need to focus on the qualifications of the applicants rather than their job title," recommended Dr. Byron Clayton, CEO of Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM), at the IFR Roundtable in Chicago. "You have to focus on the potential of the applicants. If you can't find experienced people, you have to hire someone who is capable of learning the job."

Robot manufacturers offer practical training courses

Although robot manufacturers are already supporting education and training for robotics with practical training courses, retraining the existing workforce is only a short-term measure. It is important to start much earlier and adapt school and training curricula to the industry's requirements for the workforce of the future. "On the one hand, these are technical and digital skills, but cognitive skills such as analytical and critical thinking are just as important," says Dr. Susanne Bieller, Secretary General of the International Federation of Robotics. "Economies should embrace automation and develop the necessary skills. This is the only way to benefit from the advantages of technology - and not be left behind by international competition."

You can also read the position paper "Robots and the Workplace of the Future".