Title: Workforce Automation Is Increasingly Replacing Workers with Technology Description: Increasingly, technology is automating tasks traditionally performed by workers. This has changed some jobs, while eliminating others. We found that workers with lower levels of education and those who performed more routine tasks are the most vulnerable to the effects of automation. We talk to Dawn Locke, an expert on workforce education and training, to find out more. Related GAO Work: GAO-22-105159, Workforce Automation: Insights into Skills and Training Programs for Impacted Workers Released: August 2022 [Dawn Locke:] It is imperative that our nation's workforce development system leverage automation as a step up for our workers. [Holly Hobbs:] Hi and welcome to GAO's Watchdog Report, your source for news and information from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. I'm your host--Holly Hobbs. Technology is increasingly automating tasks traditionally performed by workers. This has changed some jobs, while eliminating others. In our work, we found that workers with lower levels of education and those who performed more routine tasks were most vulnerable to the effects of automation. Today, we'll talk with Dawn Locke, an expert on workforce education and training, about our latest report on the skills and training these displaced workers would need to get in-demand jobs. Thanks for joining us. [Dawn Locke:] Thanks for having me, Holly, it's a pleasure. [Holly Hobbs:] So, Dawn when I think of workforce automation, I think of factory workers being replaced by machines. But automation is happening everywhere, right? Do we have any idea how many workers might be impacted by it? [Dawn Locke:] Well, research indicates anywhere from 9 to 47% of the workforce could be holding jobs at risk of being automated. And I'll tell you, the reason for the wide variation in the results is that workforce data don't identify why a job was lost. So we don't know whether it was due to automation or some other factor, like the pandemic. What we do know is that workers who perform more routine tasks are the most vulnerable. So, for example, we've seen cashiers being replaced by self-checkout machines. At the same time, we know that certain jobs that require skills like critical thinking or social interactions, such as nursing are less likely to be automated. [Holly Hobbs:] So what can workers do to prevent job loss? [Dawn Locke:] Workers can mitigate job loss by gaining a combination of skills needed for what's termed in-demand jobs, or those fastest growing occupations that are creating jobs. These include skills like active listening, critical thinking, or even technical expertise like maintaining a piece of equipment. Jobs that feature these skills also tend to be more resistant to automation because they require judgment and adaptability and sometimes social and emotional interaction, abilities and characteristics that can't be automated by a machine. [Holly Hobbs:] For someone who just lost their job, their priority is likely a pay check and not retraining for an in-demand job they might not get, right? Is it realistic or likely that they would have the time or ability to gain these skills? [Dawn Locke:] I'm glad you pointed that out. So having to gain new skills can be so overwhelming. During our review we learned one of the biggest obstacles is simply access to training, especially for folks who need to arrange for childcare or who live in rural areas and lack transportation. Another obstacle was inconvenient training schedules, either because the person couldn't leave work to attend the training or the training program was just too lengthy and time consuming to be feasible. [Holly Hobbs:] Did we see any cases where employers were helping workers navigate automation and its impacts? [Dawn Locke:] We do, Holly. There is a very specific example coming out of an agricultural company in California that automated its manual fruit packing process. And this company was able to retain 90% of its employees because they train them to operate and maintain the new fruit packing machines. {MUSIC} [Holly Hobbs:] Dawn just told us that anywhere from 9 to 47% of the workforce have jobs at risk of being automated. And that the workers most at risk of being replaced by automation are also those likely to face challenges in getting training for opportunities like in-demand jobs. So Dawn, we talked to stakeholders about this issue of increased automation and workforce programs. What did they tell us about steps to better serve displaced workers? [Dawn Locke:] The stakeholders from state workforce boards suggested that it would be helpful to make training more accessible by providing workers the supports they need--like the child care or like transportation--and also by scheduling training at more convenient times. These stakeholders also suggested that training programs emphasize acquiring skills that are truly in demand rather than simply focusing on things like resume writing or how to conduct a job interview. What's important to understand, Holly, is that the goal isn't to get any job as quickly as possible, but to upskill these workers so they can ideally get better jobs for higher pay. For instance, in a local warehouse near my home, I saw an automated machine cleaning floors, and that's potentially a janitor who is out of a job. But hopefully that janitor would have been given proper support and training to get upskilled and have a higher paying job at that warehouse, such as monitoring and repairing that machine. [Holly Hobbs:] And last question, what's the bottom line of this report? [Dawn Locke:] Well, we know that the rapid pace of technology is altering the workforce. From GAO's review, we know that as workers face potential job losses, many will need training for new occupations that require a mix of skills. Therefore, it is imperative that our nation's workforce development system leverage automation as a step up for our workers and ensure that workforce development programs are well-positioned to provide workers with the training and support they need for growing in-demand jobs, both now and in the future. [Holly Hobbs:] That was Dawn Locke talking about our recent report on workforce automation. Thanks for your time, Dawn. [Dawn Locke:] Thank you. [Holly Hobbs:] And thank you for listening to The Watchdog Report. 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