One-third of Canadian workers see technology as a threat to their job: survey

There may have been a time, before mankind could walk upright, where technology had no impact on our lives.

But ever since the invention of the wheel, there has always been someone finding new and better ways to do old tasks, and someone else who’s worried about losing a valuable role in society because of it.

We’re not much different now, though that glowing object in our hands is more likely to be a mobile phone than a burning torch. In fact, according to the latest Randstad Workmonitor study one in every three (32 per cent) Canadians fears their job could vanish in a few years due to the rise of technology.

From mega-corporations to modest start-ups, employers are tapping into new methods and evolving machines that get the job done cheaper and more efficiently. The changes have come fast and furious and there aren’t many of us who haven’t paused to wonder if we’ll be able to keep up with the pace.

It seems most of us are willing to try, though. The survey found 68 per cent of Canadians see the impact of technology as an opportunity to reshape, or, at the very least, shape up, our professional skills while 32 per cent see it as a potential threat.

Most of us have accepted that, yes, we’ve lost the switchboard operators for good and put the last of the print journalists on life support, but new technology has also made way for entirely new industries, including app design, digital marketing, big data architecture and social media management.

Another recent study published by the recruiting firm Manpower indicates pretty much anyone with a knack for science, engineering or math will rule the future.

Those in the skilled trades, from electricians and carpenters to millwrights, can also expect a bright future. Heck, you don’t even need to wait. Just head out west where the boom in the oil and gas industry has put many of the trades in high demand. In 2007, 15 per cent of all trades employment could be found in both Alberta and British Columbia, according to Statistics Canada.

But what about the rest of us? Those of us who are toiling away at our daily jobs, waiting for the ax to fall (wielded, no doubt, by a hyper-efficient robot).

Marlene Delanghe, a career strategist with Career Solutions in Vancouver, said it’s not uncommon for people to feel concern about their careers, whether they are just starting out or approaching retirement.

“We are in kind of a worried society, these days,” Delanghe said.
Delanghe recommends we try to put aside our fears, and pay attention instead to what we can do to keep ourselves relevant in a fast-changing world.

Her top three tips:

Take advantage of growth opportunities within the workplace
Internal training programs are great, but don’t wait for your employer to do all the work. Jump onboard a project outside your immediate comfort zone, take an online course or sign up for continuing education off-site. “The new task might mean more work, but it might also grow you and open up a new door of opportunity.”

Get out of your nest
Go to conferences, connect with colleagues in your field, and participate in meetings. “There are a lot of different ways to stretch yourself and bring value to your employer.”

Stay on top of what’s hot
Whether you subscribe to an industry newsletter or seek advice via professional webinars, it`s important to know the direction your career, or industry, is moving. “You should be able to recognize the subtle trends before they become a huge trend.”

You can also take heart in the knowledge that no technology will ever completely replace the human touch. A computer is only as amazing as its programmer, after all.