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Study: Automation and the future of work in Portugal

The Business Confederation of Portugal (CIP), Nova SBE (School of Business and Economics) and the McKinsey Global Institute developed a study regarding the Automation and the future of work in Portugal, that aimed to assess the country's automation potential, between 2019 and 2030.

The upcoming and profound technological transformations and the need act upon them - reskilling and requalifying workers - are among the trends higlighted by this study. 800 occupations and 2000 tasks  were taken into account and the main findings estimate that the increased use of robotics and AI could potentially eliminate 1.1 million existing jobs, while creating 600.000 to 1.1 million new ones. Sectors at risk include manufacturing and commerce, while health care, social assistance and education face low risks oj job loss.

The study also states that the challenges raised by automation and its effects on salaries should be contradicted by investing on adult learning and VET. It mentions that education and training systems, such as VET, have to adapt in order to respond to business needs.

Concerning labour legislation, the study reccomends an adequate framework promoting business adaptability to the market's changing needs and the adoption of new technologies and processes.

However, in this study there is one conclusion that is more important than any other: unless people are able to rise up to challenges and take advantage of new opportunities that technologies bring, automation will cause significant job losses.

 

To learn more about this issue visit the link below:

https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/news-and-press/news/portugal-new-study-impact-automation-jobs