This document discusses future trends in labor force displacement due to emerging technologies like automation, AI, and the Internet of Things. It notes that in the past, technology was expensive and people were cheap, but now people are expensive and technology is cheap and abundant. The future will see a combination of knowledge workers with multiple skillsets using high-tech tools. Factors driving displacement include business competition to lower costs, globalization, and new technologies. The document recommends researching trends, upgrading skills, obtaining multiple disciplines, and taking proactive steps like training to develop a competitive edge in this changing environment.

1. Future Shock - Labor Force Displacement:
Knowledge workers, automation, Internet of Things, AIs, self service
kiosks and robots
Prepared for the IPMA
Rob Eby
Enterprise Infrastructure and Technology Architect
Enterprise Architecture Office Supervisor
Labor and Industries
May, 2016

2. Past
 Industrial Revolution: People were
cheap, technology was expensive and
scarce

3. Past
 Communications technology was
expensive and primitive. Special skills
and training were required

4.  Post Industrial: People are expensive,
technology is cheap and abundant
Present

5.  Communications technology is cheap,
disposable. Easy to use and purchase
Present

6.  Globalization: Where technology, world
labor and business collide. ‘The Fourth
Industrial Revolution’
Future

7.  Knowledge workers with multiple skill
sets combined with high tech tools
Future

8.  High tech materials, technology that
didn’t exist just a few years ago
Future

9. Factors
 Businesses competing with other
businesses, lowest cost possible
 Globalism - not a level playing field for
the worker – fierce competition
 Automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI),
Self service kiosks, ‘Internet of Things’
and …

10. Robots!!!

11. Factors
 Worker displacement via technology
 Communications technology is shrinking
the world – ‘tech without borders’
 New industries that haven’t been
created or in infancy using new
technology

12. GeoCommunications

13. Factors
 Staff to have a combination of multiple
skillsets and knowledge
 A Developer with robotics engineering
classes, CAD design background with a
science degree
 A Business Analyst with accounting
principles, global trade background with
a degree in Organizational Leadership

14. Education and Learning

15. Factors
 Technologies and trends will
integrate/blend into society.
Normalization will occur
 New jobs will be created but what’s the
replacement ratio?? 1:1, 1:20, 1:100??
 What are the uncharted factors?
opportunities …

16. Future Society

17. What to do?
 Research latest business and
technology trends – creative and
emotion jobs are hard to automate
 Staff from a ‘traditional worker’ to a
‘knowledge worker’ role with multiple
skillsets and disciplines
 Upgrade or obtain new knowledge and
skills. Look for the ‘competitive edge’

18. Nikola Tesla

19. What to do?
 Get out, walk around. Watch what
others are doing
 Networking is still important
 Make a plan…
 Then do it!!! Take that CAD design,
Organizational Leadership, business
process or robotics engineering class!!!

20. Thank You!
Contact: robert.eby@lni.wa.gov