Jobs You Wouldn’t Expect To Be Threatened By Tech But Are

World beware: the rise of the robots is upon us! For so long, the working world has had mixed feelings towards technology, wondering just what kind of an effect automation will have on their businesses and in their world. Currently, technology stands poised, ready to put human beings out of their jobs and into the unemployment line.

Tech is Taking Over

Ever since computers made their way into every house, office, and business in the world, it was only a matter of time before their robot counterparts came after our jobs. However, the reality is that these machines aren’t actually evil sentient beings—in many industries, they increase productivity and save money for businesses.

But, despite all the benefits of this new technology, the truth is that some jobs are better left to the machines. Read on to find out which businesses and industries stand to lose the most when it comes to automation:

Travel Agencies

With convenient apps and travel websites like Airbnb, Expedia, and AirAsiaGo, travelers no longer use travel agents or agencies to book flights or hotels. With all of these websites that offer travel packages, the travel agencies that are still around may as well accept that they will soon be put out of business. Besides the convenience of these apps and websites, most travelers these days like to plan their vacations on their own.

Construction Workers

The SAM (Semi-Automated Mason) is increasingly more productive than any human worker, as this robot boasts a daily output of 1,200 bricks compared to 300 to 500 per employee. SAM only represents the beginning of automation in the construction industry. Crane operators and bulldozer drivers will be the next construction workers to see their jobs lost to robots.

Computer Operators

A computer operator’s job is to monitor and respond to any mistakes they see. However, there are barely any requirements for this sort of job in today’s world. With technology, there are new applications that can monitor these machines and are even able to fix them. With these advancements, self-fixing robots are now the norm as well. Even if there is something that your technology can’t fix itself, it will prompt you to get it fixed.

Insurance Agent

In an industry that processes such a high volume of claims, it only makes sense to let the robots take over these tedious tasks. Getting your insurance claims taken care of will be easier with the help of automation. The Japanese insurance firm Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance replaced 30 of their workers with robots that automatically process claims. This news comes as a shock to many workers, regardless of their industry, as it is a very real example of artificial intelligence taking human jobs.

Postmen

Before the Internet or email was even a thought, sending mail was the primary form of written communication.  Nowadays, most snail mail is reserved for bills and advertisements. With so few people mailing letters to each other, the role of the postman is likely to become obsolete in the near future.

Drivers

Although Uber and similar companies are indeed great innovations for the transportation business, they may no longer be necessary. Today, driverless cars are already on the market, currently being used in several countries as taxis, cabs, and more. Singapore has already used these automated vehicles as taxis.

Even in cars that require human drivers, these vehicles are built with computer systems and software like GPS. As the safety measures in self-driving cars become more sophisticated, more and more everyday consumers will start investing in these driverless cars.

Pilots

Believe it or not, driverless airplanes are the next mode of transportation to receive an automation makeover. The US government has recently tested a robot pilot by the name of Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System or ALIAS. ALIAS uses cameras to help track switches and the gauges of the plane. In addition to that, it has a robotic arm that controls the navigation throttles. The role of the ALIAS robot is to fly the aircraft, allowing the human pilot to focus on other things.

Medical Professionals

The careers of most high-level medical professionals should theoretically be safe, but with automation’s rise, machines may soon be taking doctors’ jobs. Lately, the Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot or STAR was used in surgery on a pig. STAR had a successful surgery, with many human doctors admitting that the robot did a much better job with the surgery than a human would.

Automation isn’t as bad as you think, and most humans aren’t afraid of losing their jobs. In fact, it can help streamline certain departments of your business. Your business may be in need of organization with daily sales. If this is the case, you can invest in management software for sales so your employees can spend less time entering information. Instead, your employees will spend more time making sales.

Before getting in a panic over your career’s bleak future, every industry that experiences a tech takeover is bound to be better off. In many of these professions, machines won’t destroy jobs; in some cases, bringing automation to an industry will offer employees opportunities to develop their skills elsewhere.