Will robots steal women’s jobs?
Extensive research has been done on how artificial intelligence, ‘Big Data’ and automation will affect women’s employment in the future. Some argue that new technologies can allow for greater job flexibility for women. Conversely, others worry that new technologies will create losses in sectors and positions that employ women in overwhelming numbers. Despite these controversies, one shared opinion is that female-dominated sectors, such as education, social services and health care, are at low risk of automation due to their reliance on human interaction.
That was before Zora, the world’s first human-care robot. Designed by researchers in Belgium, Zora is built to interact with people in need of care, such as the elderly and children with special needs. With its advanced motor skills, built-in camera, and programmable touch panel, Zora can dance to your favourite music, record your favourite memories, and even demonstrate gymnastic exercises. More than just a robot, Zora can become your personal caregiver—or even your best friend.
This humanoid robot is not the first of its kind. So, why are so many people talking about Zora? What makes Zora special is that it is the first robot to provide caregiving services at a time when they are gravely needed. The number of persons aged 60 and above is expected to more than double by 2050, innovative technologies like Zora offer a way to meet the growing demand for around-the-clock care. Sold to over 1,000 healthcare facilities already, Zora is not only filling this demand surplus, but it is showcasing how robots can be used to revolutionize the healthcare and hospitality industries.
What does this mean for women? Women make up around 92.2%of the nursing workforce in Canada, and provide the majority of caregiving services globally. While many other labour markets are at risk of job loss due to new technologies, social service sectors are believed to be protected thanks to the cognitive and interpersonal skills required. This begs the question: can technologies like Zora undermine our assumptions and begin to replace workers that are predominately women? According to experts, the answer is probably not. While Zora has many features, there are also many skills that this robot does not have. For example, Zora can’t dispense medicine, feed patients or change bed sheets. Even the tasks that Zora canperform can only be done with significant technical support. But that isn’t to say that technologies won’t be adapted to provide these features in the future.
One thing that humanoid robots will never provide, however, is true humanintimacy, warmth and touch. It is for this reason that experts have argued that technologies like Zora will complement women’s jobs, rather than replace them. However, as technology develops it is likely that jobs will require new digital skills, in addition to soft skills such as good communication and empathy. Rather than panicking about robots taking over, initiatives should consequently be put in place to train young women in the skills necessary to succeed in the digital workplace.