BusinessTech
Jobs portal CareerJunction’s latest employment trends report highlights job skills or job categories that are becoming redundant – quickly going the way of the switchboard operator.
The CareerJunction Employment Insights Report typically unpacks some of the professions that are and will continue to be on the rise in the coming years, its September report also highlighted several ‘jobs at risk’ – roles that may become obsolete by 2030.
These jobs are likely to fall victim to the Fourth Industrial Revolution – a term coined in 2016 by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum – which speaks of a world led by technological advances that could make some contemporary skills obsolete.
“This era of digitalisation is changing the employment landscape rapidly, with the creation and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), robots, augmented reality, and so on,” CareerJunction said.
“This ongoing innovation is impacting labour markets worldwide, and South Africa is no exception.”
Apps like Uber or Bolt have already replaced the friendly taxi coordinator who used to answer the phone and allocate a driver and taxi to collect you from point A and take you to point B. The same threat has been seen in ticketing offices, video rental stores and CD stores, the group said.
Other sectors which are heading for the endangered list are print media – where newspapers and magazines are becoming redundant in the face of online access to news articles and other services – travel agencies – where trips and holidays are easily booked online – and postal services – which have already been replaced by the likes of emails, Facebook and online statements.
“The main differentiator in the digital era is routine tasks versus non-routine tasks,” CareerJunction said.
Medium-skilled workers performing routine tasks in particular run the risk of being replaced by computers doing their job more efficiently, while there are a growing number of job opportunities
for professions that involve non-routine tasks.
Over the last two years, thanks to Covid-19 and national lockdowns, the working work has now accelerated its digital transformation, with many job roles either being made redundant or shifting online entirely.
Digital services, meanwhile, had rapidly started replacing manual operations: more people do their grocery shopping online; meetings are held over interfaces like Teams and Zoom; and society is turning to digital and online banking, trying to avoid trips to the local branch.
CareerJunction said there are some obvious jobs that face extinction in the future – like the switchboard operator, whose job has been redundant for some time. While a few positions open up for this role on its platform, it said that the core function of the role is now handled by machines and message services.
Tracking posting data over the last five years, the group compiled a list of jobs that are now at risk of going the same way. These jobs are already experiencing a significant drop in labour demand and are expected to become increasingly redundant over the next few years:
Bank Teller – 58% drop
ATMs have been replacing human tellers at the bank for many years, and further digitalisation projects – such as online banking and banking apps – within the banking sector are now threatening the bank teller’s job role in its entirety, CareerJunction said.
Hiring for these positions has dropped by 58% over the last five years.
Telemarketer / Telemarketing Agent – 32% drop
There has been a significant increase in automated sales calls over the last few years, serving as an example of how the human in telemarketing has been replaced.
“The automated process is much more cost-effective for many businesses and reduces staff costs. Hiring activity for telemarketing roles has decreased by 32% over the last five years and is expected to decrease further in the years to come,” the group said.
Insurance Broker – 27% drop
Getting advice on suitable insurance policies as well as the best type and level of insurance coverage for one’s specific needs can now be done any time of day or night using software programmes.
As a result, many insurances need fewer brokers and hiring activity for these roles is decreasing. There has been a 27% drop in demand for this role over the last five years.
Dispatch Supervisor / Dispatch Manager – 26% drop
The latest software applications can plan, schedule, track and record deliveries accurately and systematically.
“Although the human worker is still needed to crosscheck what has been recorded digitally, this task can be done by dispatch clerks and requires less costly staff. There has been a 26% drop in demand for Dispatch Supervisors and Dispatch Managers over the last five years,” CareerJunction noted.
Travel Consultant – 21% drop
“The use of travel agencies has decreased significantly in recent years, locally as well as globally. The travel restrictions implemented during the Covid pandemic accelerated this trend,” the group said.
Websites and apps like Airbnb, LekkeSlaap, TripAdvisor and Travelstart have made it easier than ever to book accommodation without the help of a travel consultant. Flights and car hire can also be easily arranged online, directly through the airline or car hire company.
As a result, travel consultants are rapidly being replaced by digital services. There has been a 21% drop in demand for this role over the last five years.
Data Capturer / Typist – 19% drop
Although the capturing of data and information is still crucial across many sectors, the technology available to capture offline data is getting better at a very fast pace.
Most smartphones are able to transcribe voice notes or even translate text into many different languages. The downward trend in data-capturing jobs is already visible. Recruitment for data capturing or typist skills has decreased by 19% over the last five years.
Retail Store Manager and Shop Assistant / Retail Assistant – 43% and 18% drop
E-commerce has completely transformed the retail landscape, and purchasing goods or services is now just a click away, making life easier for consumers
“Again, the pandemic and lockdowns accelerated the increased use of online shopping apps like Takealot, Amazon and Superbalist, among others. As a result, traditional shops and stores are selling less, and the demand for retail staff is shrinking,” CareerJunction said.
There has been a 43% drop in demand for Retail Store Managers and an 18% drop in demand for Shop Assistants and Retail Assistants over the last five years.
Librarian – 16% drop
“The era of digitalisation has resulted in many libraries closing their doors around the globe. The internet and Google have replaced the need for encyclopaedias. Kindle, smartphones and tablets have made E-books and audiobooks accessible – replacing the need for hard copy books or CDs,” the group said.
As a result, the demand for library staff has dropped by over 16% over the last five years.
CareerJunction noted that the steep declines in these jobs over the last few years is only one face of the coin, noting that digital technologies and shifting workforce paradigms also bring new jobs and new opportunities.
“While millions of jobs will be lost to automation, there will be an increased demand for highly skilled professionals to work in the growing fields created by the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” it said.
Read: These are the most in-demand job skills in South Africa right now
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