In a recent article I covered new research arguing that far from automated technology causing harm to the labor market, more harm is actually done by a lack of investment in technology.  It’s a conclusion shared by a recent report for the UK government, which concluded that the UK had just 10 robots for every million hours worked, versus 167 in Japan.

The report bemoans that whilst the UK led the first industrial revolution, it has lagged behind in the fourth industrial revolution as other nations have been more enthusiastic investors and developers of the latest technologies.  This not only has led to other countries setting the agenda of our age, but the growth and jobs that these technologies bring have been concentrated elsewhere.

“While we do not want to dismiss fears about technology replacing workers, we also urge policy makers, businesses and the public to think about the alternatives,” the authors say. “If we fall further behind in productivity and the adoption of new technologies, then future investment decisions will not follow.”

Low productivity

They argue that low investment and adoption of automation is a key factor in the low productivity seen across the UK economy, but especially in small and medium enterprises where the lack of investment is chronic.

While the UK has largely missed its opportunity to lead with industrial automation, it can, and should be doing much better at adopting the technologies of the 4th industrial revolution.  It’s a process the authors believe government should be doing more to support.

“The Government needs to provide support for businesses, through research funding and incentives for investment, and for academia, by ensuring our universities have access to researchers, investment and projects from around the world,” they say.

The authors urge an increased investment in education throughout our lives to support this.  This doesn’t just involve the obvious STEM related topics to provide the technical skills required, but also the softer skills and the skills we can’t yet comprehend to respond to changes in the labor market.

“A flexible and relevant school and university curriculum, as well as a large-scale expansion of lifelong learning and reskilling are essential and ensure opportunities don’t just fall to those with the ‘right’ degrees and skillsets, and enables the UK to improve on the only 17 per cent female workforce in the technology sector,” they explain.

The future is undoubtedly going to be one of considerable change, but we should not bury our heads in the sand and pretend such changes are not coming.  As previous industrial revolutions so aptly illustrate, new technologies provide tremendous advantages across society. That they cause short-term disruptions to parts of those societies is equally beyond dispute. If any lessons can be taken from the past however, it’s not that we should cease the wheels of progress, but rather help people to adapt to the changes in their circumstances.