Sponsored By Community Brands
The Future of Work: High Tech Doesn’t Mean High Unemployment
Rapid change can be unnerving, but associations that adapt in this era of disruption will thrive—recognizing the many opportunities of tomorrow.
We all know R2-D2, the beloved, plucky, little robot whose beeps and boops helped defeat the evil Empire. Although adorable, how cute will he be when he’s competing with you for an employment opportunity?
According to expert analysis from Deloitte Insights, machines will be taking on significantly more of the repetitive tasks we do in the workplace. This shift in task delegation will result in the disruption of 32 percent of jobs currently being performed by humans—and the elimination of 14 percent of existing professions.
Do these findings mean we should be panicking? “No,” says JP Guilbault, President and CEO of Community Brands, who, through innovation and technology, empowers more than 130,000 organizations to grow stronger, succeed faster, and achieve their dreams.
“There is no doubt that repetitive tasks will be eliminated by artificial intelligence and machine learning—and that is a good thing!” says Guilbault. “Those types of jobs will be wiped out but another 1.75 million will be gained. This is why it is pivotal for management to train members and employees in such areas as problem-solving and personal skills. These are the traits that will be needed for the future.”
The idea of change can be unnerving but the businesses and associations that are able to adapt in this era of rapid technology change will thrive and find themselves in a position to exponentially improve the lives of their employees and their members. According to Deloitte Insights, 65 percent of future jobs have yet to be created. “High tech does not mean high unemployment,” says Guilbault.
AI’s impact on the workforce
“So much of our identity is tied to our career,” says Guilbault, “so with big change comes psychological disruption and anxiety.”
It takes little investigation to begin to see the benefits and upsides of technological advances. “Artificial Intelligence is going to eliminate boring work and create more meaningful and engaging work,” Guilbault shares. “I don’t know about most people, but I hate doing repetitive things!”
Data being sourced from AI will give associations the opportunity to make informed, successful decisions, which, by extension, result in an increase in overall productivity.
“We’ll have a stronger balance of work and life as these monotonous, time-consuming tasks are eliminated,” says JP. “In short, these changes allow us to devote more time and energy to the things we love doing both in and out of the workplace.”
The trickle-down effect
Guilbault notes that the great work of associations is all about building alignment, finding consensus, and taking people together on a journey.
“If you’re sitting at your desk creating an Excel file that needs to be updated every month or every quarter, that’s time and brainpower that is not being devoted to your organization’s true mission,” he points out. “When we eliminate those tasks, we can focus on the work that directly serves our constituents and their needs. Instead of spreadsheets, you’re devoting time to influencing policy, and learning about skill gaps that are coming down the road that your members should be prepared for.”
A healthier and happier workplace
“Hierarchical structures and ‘career ladders’ are the old paradigm,” asserts Guilbault who predicts, “we will see a much more fluid flow of ideas and engagements as AI becomes more ingrained in our associations.”
These changes will remove pain points, they will teach new skills, open the door for new talent, new processes, and create a healthier work environment.
JP Guilbault leaves us with this anecdote: “Shift, disruption, and change don’t have to be scary, just as long as you understand what is happening and anticipate the opportunities of tomorrow.”
About Community Brands
Community Brands is the leading provider of business management, engagement, commerce & payment solutions to member-based organizations. With 2,800 employees serving over 130,000 clients in 34 countries, we empower people and organizations to grow stronger, succeed faster and achieve their dreams- because powerful work needs powerful tech.
Learn about our tech for good at www.communitybrands.com.
(Handout photo)
