etui-etuc conference 2016 panel 20 robert went
TRANSCRIPT
Mastering the robotThe future of work in the second machine age
ETUI/ETUC conference 29-06-2016
Robert Went (WRR)@went1955
Will 47% of jobs disappear? Not so fast…
• 100 biggest Dutch employers in 2014: - 0,5%
• Jobs are bundles of tasks, often change partially (studies McKinsey and recently OECD)
• There will be new jobs and tasks (imagination)
• Not everything can be automated (e.g. economist David Autor; examples Foxconn & Mercedes)
The future: an inclusive robot agenda“Digital investments need analog complements to ensure everyone will reap benefits” – Worldbank 2016
1. Invest in robots
• There are not enough robots: productivity and growth (Gordon)
• Heavy and drudgery work can be automated
• Coordination problems, first mover disadvantage
2. Complementarity is key: man with machine (co-bots)
• “Humans are underrated” (work that is human, or that shouldstay human)
• Organize co-creation (government can set examples)
• Also low-skilled work and lower incomes (Atkinson, MIT inclusive innovation contest, care sector, job carving)
3. Ownership of work
• Autonomy and control good for productivity
• Reduce stress, burn-out, increase well-being (happiness)
• “Don’t change workers into robots” (e.g. wearables)
4. New inequality issues
• Income: Job polarization, more low-skilled jobs (multiplier)
• Wealth: Who owns the robots owns the future (robot dividend)
• Loosers: Portfolio of measures to support people not able to cope(targeted “basic income”, supported jobs, early retirement)