Thanks to Automation, You Just Got Promoted

Automation is coming for the entry-level job. For Generation Z members between the ages of 16-24, it is estimated that 49% of their jobs will be eliminated. This change in the way we work will potentially put an end to the jobs that generations have come to accept as the standard starter position. Most of us who are now well beyond the entry-level skill set may not feel that this elimination will impact us, but it will. With the automation of cashier and service positions, a large number of people who rely on this work will need to find alternative pathways into the world of work. But this coming automation-driven upheaval isn’t necessarily a negative thing. Humankind is elevated by starting at a higher place in the workforce and by valuing our intellectual and creative abilities. This AI induced future will force young people to consider whether chasing a low-wage is worth the time and energy expended.

Most entry-level work requires minimal skills and can be repetitive, offering little gain other than building grit or resilience. These are admirable qualities, but there is so much more needed to succeed in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. These jobs have the danger of keeping young people in low-wage positions. The entry-level work that automation will replace is work that is often undervalued and does not help employees build the skills required to thrive in the future of work. In fact, it can end up making people feel very limited in their value and self-worth.

The coming shift in automated entry-level work will force our society to approach work in different ways than it has for many generations. There will be a philosophical shift towards work and this will impact all generations in the workforce. It will require us to reconsider how we hire young people. It will also require new pathways to skill building.

Here are some ideas that we should explore further so that Generation Z and all subsequent generations can thrive in a highly automated world of work:

·        Take Time to Find Your Path: Take this opportunity to study a useful subject at a community college. These institutions tend to be far more affordable than universities. Explore your interests and consider what it is you enjoy doing. We are surrounded by an ocean of inspiration!

·        Imagine What Can Be: Look for new and up and coming career paths instead of traditional careers. This is a time of great change. If you’re innovative, you’ll be able to see what can be and make it happen.

·        Contingent Work: Do not overlook building skills while taking short-term work placements. At each assignment, you’ll build new skills.

·        Do-It-Yourself: Not everyone can afford to not work between the ages of 16-25. But entry-level work for others tends to require long hours at low-wages and little-to-no long term career development. It might be more valuable to consider pathways to entrepreneurship and community engagement. Building emotional intelligence, accessing creativity, and developing a mature perspective will set job applicants ahead of others who do not have these skills.

·        Internships/Apprenticeships: Do not overlook paid internships or apprenticeships in industries you find fascinating and want to learn more about. These offer valuable experiences and allow you to try careers out before deciding that they are the right fit for you.  

 The future is always uncertain, but it doesn’t have to be perilous. Automation will fundamentally change the way we view work. I believe we need to rethink the value of the individual. Machines can’t replace our creativity and the unique gifts we each have within us. We will need to adapt to valuing people for their individuality more than their ability to comply with orders and stay with the herd.

People should not have to sweat and toil at a low-wage job in order to learn how to ‘Dream Big’. They have the dreams within them already! If we are proactively approaching ways to assist Generation Z or entry-level workers in the workforce, we’ll all benefit from this shift. As a society, we need to be thinking of ways to build a future of work that benefits everyone.