Technological unemployment – who is afraid of losing their job to a robot?

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to identify, analyse and assess the mood regarding the possibility of employees losing their jobs and being replaced with robots and regarding methods of preventing technological unemployment. Methodology: In March 2021, an online survey of a group of economically active adults in Poland (N=158) was carried out. Using the Internet, the standardised survey was addressed to people selected by the author. Results: The research has shown that employees are not afraid of losing their jobs, yet almost 90% of respondents plan to increase their competencies. People in managerial positions focus on developing cognitive and social competencies, while people in other positions plan to develop technical competencies. Research limitations: The research did not include unemployed and digitally excluded people. The research sample was selected by the author. Therefore, we do not extrapolate the results to the general public. Practical implications: The study shows that employees do not yet fully perceive the problem of technological unemployment. However, when planning their development, they learn independently or choose courses. Low interest in developing competencies in studies may signal that universities should make changes in their pedagogical offering. Novelty: Most research in the field of technological unemployment deals with the description of a business phenomenon or perspective. There is relatively little research on attitudes and reactions of human capital to the phenomenon of technological unemployment. Keywords: technological unemployment, competencies, human capital, Industry 4.0Classification:research paper