Technology like automation and artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how we work and will keep changing things in the future. Automation often replaces takes over tasks that are repetitive and routine. This can mean some jobs might disappear, especially in industries where people do a lot of manual or repetitive work. Jobs that involve physical labour, paperwork, or basic computer tasks could be affected.
It is not all bad news. Automation can also create new jobs or change existing ones to be more interesting and challenging. It means there is a higher demand for skills that work well with technology, like problem solving or creative thinking. These are skills that machines can’t do as easily as humans. Overall, using these technologies can make businesses more productive.
Generative AI applications like ChatGPT can affect certain types of jobs. According to the Conference Board of Canada, jobs that need a lot of programming and writing skills might be at risk because of artificial intelligence. These tools can change how tasks like writing, translating, coding, analyzing data, and organizing information are done. Right now, these tools are more likely to help out people who do jobs needing complex writing skills instead of replacing them. But jobs that rely a lot on programming skills could be affected more.
What might that mean for Nova Scotia’s labour market?
A 2022 paper by the Conference Board of Canada created eight clusters for Canadian jobs based on similar skills needed. Then, they looked at how likely it is for each group of jobs to be affected by automation. This page talks about what they found and how automation and AI might change the job market in Nova Scotia.
Key Definitions:
Automation: using technology to make a task easier with less involvement from people.
Artificial Intelligence: assistive technology with context-dependent “intelligence”.
Potential Impacts on Nova Scotia’s Labour Market
STEM Professionals – Risk of Automation = Low
This group includes jobs in engineering, science, math, and technology. These jobs usually have a good outlook, and the risk of automation is low. Many people in this group have at least a bachelor’s degree, while others have a college diploma. This group has the highest median income at $70,000. Workers need skills in programming, technology design, science, mathematics, and operations analysis.
While these jobs are less likely to be automated, it does include nine of the top jobs where programming is really important, one where writing is really important, and seven where both programming and writing are important. In Nova Scotia that is about 12,975 workers in this group, or 2.7% of the total labour force that could be affected by AI.
Knowledge Workers – Risk of Automation = Low
This is the largest group of jobs, and they need the most education. It includes jobs like economists and economic policy researchers, pharmacists, high school teachers, and people who work in business or advertising. The outlook for many of the jobs in this group is good and they aren’t likely to be automated. The median income in this group is $65,000. Important skills in these jobs are judgement and decision-making, social perceptiveness, monitoring, complex problem-solving, and active listening.
This group includes one of the top jobs where programming is really important and eight of the top jobs where writing is really important. AI might affect these jobs. In Nova Scotia that is about 6,865 workers, which is just 1.4% of the workforce.
Personal Services – Risk of Automation = Moderate
This large group of jobs might face some automation, but it has a good growth outlook. Many of these workers have high school or some post-secondary training. The median income for this group is $38,000. Jobs in this group include things like accounting clerks, data entry clerks, dispatchers, legal assistants, and retail salespeople. The important skills for these jobs are negotiation, speaking well, persuasion, writing, and managing money.
This group also includes three jobs that involve a lot of writing and three that need both programming and writing skills. Together they only employ about 4,115 workers, or 0.9% of the total labour force.
Supervisors – Risk of Automation = Low
The supervisor group includes jobs like coaches, construction inspectors, surveyors, medical sonographers and other technical health occupations, and supervisory roles. These jobs do not have high educational requirements and are not at a big risk of being replaced by automation or AI. This is the second highest-paid cluster in Nova Scotia with a median income of $66,750. The important skills for supervisors include a helping others, social perceptiveness, learning strategies, instructing, and speaking.
Technical Trades – Risk of Automation = High
The technical trades group includes jobs like boilermakers, carpenters, electricians, and others who work with tools and machinery. Most workers have gone to college or done an apprenticeship. This is one of the higher-paying groups with a median income of $54,000. These jobs are at risk for automation and machining tool operators are at risk of change from AI. The important skills for these jobs include helping others, listening well, speaking clearly, writing, and understanding what you read.
Non-technical Trades – Risk of Automation = High
The non-technical trades group include jobs like bakers, bartenders, hairstylists, photographers, printing press operators, and sports officials. The top skills for these jobs are running equipment, fixing things, choosing the right tools, and troubleshooting. This is a lower-paying cluster with a median income of $29,100. There is a higher risk of automation in this cluster. You usually don’t need as much education for these jobs.
Builders – Risk of Automation = High
Builders are a large group of workers in Nova Scotia and these jobs have the highest automation risk. These jobs include bricklayers, concrete finishers, longshore workers, roofers, and transport truck drivers. The important skills for this group include fixing things, installation, fixing equipment, troubleshooting, and choosing the right tools. Many workers in this cluster have a high school diploma or less. It is one of the lower-paying groups with a median income of $29,700.
Doers – Risk of Automation = High
The Doers group includes jobs like cashiers, waiters and waitresses, cleaners, nursery workers, pet groomers, and others. It is makes up a large share of total employment in Nova Scotia and has a high risk of automation. Workers in this group tend to have a high school education or less. It is the lowest-paying cluster with a median income of $14,300. Important skills include management of personal resources, operation monitoring, operation and control, time management, and quality control analysis.
Sources:
- Conference Board of Canada
- Statistics Canada