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The majority of Americans in a new survey predict that within 50 years robots and computers will do much of the work now done by humans. The Pew Research Center polled Americans for their thoughts on the future of workforce automation and found that 65% think that within 50 years robots and computers will “definitely” or “probably” do much of the labor currently done by people. The tally was 15% definitely, 50% probably, 25% probably not and 7% definitely not. But respondents in general said their own jobs were safe from the robot and computer takeover. Asked if they expected their own job to exist in its current form in five decades, 80% replied in the affirmative. The tally was 36% definitely, 44% probably, 12% probably not and 6% definitely not. Americans who work in the government, nonprofit or education sectors believe their jobs are less likely to be replaced by robots or computers than people who work for large corporations and midsize or small businesses. Some 86% of Americans who work in the government, education or nonprofit sectors believe their jobs will definitely or probably exist in 50 years. That compares with 79% of workers in large corporations or medium and small businesses. Just 11% of workers overall are concerned about losing their current job due to workforce automation. They rank competition from lower-paid human workers and broader industry trends as bigger immediate worries. Pew surveyed 2,001 U.S. adults June 10 through July 12 for the study, the results of which were released Thursday. Do Robots Help Create Jobs? While Americans express concerns about robots and computers taking their jobs, some studies show that new technology creates jobs by freeing up workers for other tasks. The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) last October released a study showing that use of factory robots is actually associated with increased employment. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the trade group showed that during recent non-recessionary periods (1996-2000, 2002-07 and 2010-14), general employment and robot shipments both increased. This week, a survey by research firm Evans Data showed that software developers fear that the rise of artificial intelligence might take away their jobs. Technologists see increasing factory and warehouse automation in the years ahead, boosting companies like ABB ( ABB ) and Teradyne ( TER ). They envision autonomous vehicles from the likes of Alphabet ( GOOGL ) and Uber taking the place of human taxi and delivery drivers. They even see robots taking a bigger role in fighting military conflicts. Last year, industrial robot orders and shipments in North America set new records, according to the Robotic Industries Association . More than 28,000 robots valued at $1.6 billion were shipped to North American customers in 2015. Shipments rose 10% in units and 9% in dollars. RELATED: Next-Gen Robots Poised To Enter Industrial, Commercial Markets Danger Will Robinson! A $15 Minimum Wage Will Only Help Robot Burger-Flippers Scalper1 News
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