The fact that robots are going to take over some jobs in the future economy is a given. There is no point in fighting it because change is here. How can workers adapt and succeed? According to Jeff Desjardins In Business insider, the following 10 skills are critical for success in the new economy:

1. Complex Problem Solving
2. Critical Thinking
3. Creativity
4. People Management
5. Coordinating with Others
6. Emotional Intelligence
7. Judgment and decision making
8. Service Orientation
9. Negotiation
10. Cognitive Flexibility

(Desjardins, June 2018)

 

When we compare the pros and cons of robots in the workplace it becomes more clear why there would be a shift in skills needed for workers who are working alongside robots. While robots may be more efficient in certain environments, they may not tire as quickly as humans, They may be more precise, be stronger and faster, however they can’t replace the cognitive and emotional parts of the human brain. For example a robot would not be able to interpret the opinions of their coworkers or customers. Robots would not be able to effectively manage and motivate workers to increase productivity. The workplace is still going to need higher level thinking skills that only humans can bring to the workplace.