How automation and artificial intelligence will affect your job

We've long heard that robots are set to take over our jobs, but now new research has revealed which careers are actually at risk and which are future-proof - and they're not necessarily the jobs you would think.

Over the next five years, it's being predicted that more than 13,500 fewer secretaries will be hired - and sales assistants are also declining fast due to automation.

"We are seeing the rise of automation and artificial intelligence, and this will definitely have an effect on the sort of jobs that we're seeing," said Managing Director of People2People Recruitment Erin Devlin.

"But we don't need to panic yet - because there are going to be a lot of jobs that will replace those that we're used to doing."

Jobs in decline

Sales assistants have dropped 23 per cent between 2016 and 2019, topping the list of jobs with the worst decline - but white-collar management positions are also under threat.

"The first jobs to go will be those that are routine and process-oriented, so we're going to see those easily replaced with computers and artificial intelligence," Devlin said.

"But if you're in a job that has a human element to it as well, such as a policeman or beautician or Human Resources professional, those sorts of jobs are much harder to replace with computers.

"It's also a reflection on us as consumers - previously, we'd walk into a store and ask a sales assistant about the benefits and features of a product. But now we've got better access to data, so we're doing that research before we even go into the store."

Jobs on the rise

The list of Australia's fastest-growing jobs includes advertising and PR managers, software and applications programmers, accountants, and primary school teachers.

Overall employment is predicted to grow by seven per cent, or 886,100 jobs, with many of these likely to be part-time roles.

"In the workforce, we're seeing an increase towards flexible and casual work and even part-time work, and people are choosing these for lifestyle reasons," Devlin said.

"Jobs that are centred around data, automation and artificial intelligence are also on the increase.

"As we move towards a slightly more wealthy situation for some people, we're also going to see an increase in health and fitness, beauty and education."

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