What is the future of work in an age of rapid technological advancements on one hand, and growing unemployment rates, on the other hand? The disruption of the job market by cutting-edge technologies, artificial intelligence and robotics is not only reshaping traditional industries but also imperilling established job roles, all in the backdrop of an already heavily unemployed skilled labour demographic.
So, how should we approach work in these challenging times?
In 1985, the post-leftist anarchist Bob Black boldly proclaimed in his essay, The Abolition of Work, that work is the source of nearly all the misery in the world. He argued that our current socioeconomic structures, where we work to earn a living, are at the heart of capitalism’s coercive forces.
Black urged society to reconsider the very meaning and purpose of work and to contemplate organising itself around play instead of wage labour. Over three decades later, his words continue to resonate, particularly in the context of the future of work.
The concept of work, as we know it, plays a significant role in perpetuating a myriad of societal problems. Issues like inequality, social stress, fatigue, segregation, racism and environmental degradation are deeply rooted in the idea that people work not for the collective good, but to gain individual advantages, often at the expense of their communities and the world at large. The capitalist system, while advancing nations and economic groupings, raises important questions: Are we genuinely making life easier, and at what costs?
The Future of Jobs Reports 2023 by the World Economic Forum foretells a world where new technologies, AI and robotics threaten to displace millions of workers by 2027. It is a stark reminder that we must re-evaluate the very essence of work in our lives. The race toward automation poses significant challenges, particularly in terms of economic, social and racial inequalities, which can be further exacerbated by the inevitable mass layoffs.
The fundamental question is whether our societies should be organised around work or, as Black suggested, around play, community and connection. In the quest for economic growth and individual wealth accumulation, nations often compete, wage wars and hoard resources. For instance, more food is wasted at production in the US to maintain supply and demand balance than is needed to feed a hungry child elsewhere in the world. This raises the question: Who is fooling whom, and at what point do we reassess the meaning and purpose of work in a holistic manner?
Work, which has been an integral part of human existence for centuries, has led to the creation of the life we enjoy today, but it has also ushered in many forms of destruction and suffering. As we move forward, it is crucial to explore the balance between necessary work and the potential for leisure, contemplation and simply experiencing the cycle of life, like other species. We need to consider the toll that relentless work exacts on individuals and communities.
The Future of Jobs Reports 2023 raises pressing concerns about the future of employment landscape. While new opportunities may emerge, there is no guarantee that they will replace the jobs lost to automation. The risk of increasing economic disparities, social segregation and racial inequalities looms large.
Governments must explore sustainable work models and question the need for the current standard of working five to seven days a week, 365 days a year. We should ponder whether life, in its essence, is meant to be about work or simply living. In our pursuit of longevity and material gain, we must assess the costs to our collective well-being and the environment. Perhaps, as we contemplate the future of work, we should also ask: To what end are we working, and what is the price of this relentless toil?
Work has the power to shape our world for better or for worse, and as we navigate an age of automation and AI, it is time we engage in a collective conversation about what work truly means and what its purpose should be in the grand scheme of human existence.
The writer is a governance, risk and compliance expert