Many populations fear big job loss from automation: survey
Many populations fear big job loss from automation:
survey
13 September 2018
NEW YORK (AFP) - The public is broadly fearful that
automation will lead to significant job losses, with many populations skeptical
the technologies will boost economic efficiency, according to a survey of 10
countries released Thursday.
The survey, by the Pew Research Center, revealed some
variation among the countries polled, with Greece, South Africa and Argentina
expressing the highest degree of certainty on the displacement of human workers
by technology.
But large majorities in all 10 countries agreed that
automation would "definitely" or "probably" lead to
significant job losses. The lowest percentage was the United States, with 65
percent, the report said.
Large majorities in all 10 countries also agreed people
would have a hard time finding work and that inequality would worsen due to
automation and artificial intelligence.
One question with a big range was whether automation
would make the economy more efficient. Majorities in seven countries were
skeptical of that upside, with just 33 percent of Italians taking that view.
But there were three exceptions where majorities accepted
that argument: Japan (74 percent), Poland (61 percent) and Hungary (52
percent).
Another area of variance was on the government's role in
preparing the workforce for the future.
Argentina, Brazil and Italy were among the countries
where more than 70 percent said the public sector should assume this
responsibility, a view shared by just 35 percent in the United States.
"People are much more worried about the impact on
jobs and inequality than they are that this is going to increase efficiency in
the economy or create new job opportunities," said Bruce Stokes, director
of global economic attitudes at Pew.
"The positive argument for this whole economic trend
is not resonating with at least the public we surveyed," he said.
"Simply telling people, 'Don't worry. This will be good for you.' People
aren't accepting it."
© 2018 AFP
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