Routine jobs only for robots

According to the latest World Bank report, 23 mln new jobs may emerge in this century. Last week, the ministry of investment and development held a presentation of the World Bank's report entitled ‘The changing nature of work’ which presents the changes that the global labour market is facing in the next few years.

The study shows that it will be increasingly difficult for traditional companies and corporations to compete against rapidly growing digital platforms whose business models are developing at a dizzying pace. Examples include hotel chains such as Marriott or Hilton, which are not able to compete against the Airbnb platform in terms of the range of accommodation, just like taxi corporations are not able to compete with Uber. The development of such global enterprises as Ikea or Walmart is much slower than some Chinese Internet platforms. Progressive globalisation and digitisation make work more accessible and flexible at the same time. The number of long-term employment contracts is decreasing and the sector of informal order contracts is growing.

“Automation results in the liquidation of some jobs, especially the repetitive and routine jobs. At the same time, new jobs are emerging along with the increase in innovation,” said Michał Rutkowski from the World Bank. In his opinion, the most important challenge for the governments of all countries is to ensure social security for the people who do not have formal jobs. According to the World Bank, the introduction of a guaranteed social minimum will be such a solution.

Other conclusions from the report? Investment in human capital is necessary in the era of globalisation and digitisation, Poland included. Therefore, funds from the European Development Fund, the ‘Digital Poland’ and the ‘Knowledge, Education, Development’ operational programmes as well as from Regional Operational Programmes will be designated to the development of human capital in order to e.g. increase digital literacy and greater access to the internet.

Małgorzata Jarosińska, a deputy minister of investment and development, reported that almost PLN 400 mln would also be allocated to internships in technologically highly-advanced companies, and about EUR 1 bln will be invested in facilitating access to broadband internet for 14,000 schools and two million households.