Public Perception on the Risk of Job Automation
User sentiment overview
The 'User sentiment overview' chart visualizes evolving views on job automation risks, showing both weighted and unweighted data. Points on the chart represent the monthly aggregated risk level, sourced from user votes and scaled from 0% to 100%, with 100% indicating maximum perceived risk.
The risk level is calculated in two ways. The unweighted average treats the votes from all occupations equally, meaning that the votes carry equal weight regardless of the size of the profession. On the other hand, the weighted average takes into account the size of each profession, with occupations having larger workforce carrying more weight in the average calculation.
Sentiment by job category
This chart provides an in-depth analysis of automation risk sentiments, allowing users to break down the data by specific job categories. This enables a closer look at the nuances in how different industries perceive the risk of automation.
With the ability to select various job categories, you can make comparisons and discern trends or outliers among them. Perhaps some sectors are perceived as more susceptible to automation than others, or maybe the sentiment has significantly changed in certain categories over time.
Next to the category filters you can see what proportion of total jobs falls within each category. This provides a context for the size of each job category, helping you understand the overall significance of the sentiment data you're examining.
Sentiment by wage bracket
Our next chart offers an exploration of how automation risk sentiments might vary according to wage brackets. This 'Sentiment by Wage' breaks down the data according to specific income levels, enabling a understanding of how wage might correlate with perceived automation risks.
Next to the wage bracket filters you can see what proportion of total jobs falls within each bracket.
Your observation about needing a degree to access better opportunities is particularly concerning. It reflects a broader societal issue: the growing divide between those who can afford education and those who cannot, leaving many talented individuals with skills that go underappreciated. The pressure to conform to an educational or professional mold stifles creativity and limits the value of non-traditional pathways. This is where automation and artificial intelligence have further exacerbated the issue—human talent and skill are often overlooked in favor of cheaper, more efficient technological solutions.
We need to reimagine the future of work, where technology doesn't replace humanity but complements it. This means creating opportunities that recognize and nurture the diverse abilities and experiences of individuals, not just those with degrees or a specific job title. We must also emphasize empathy and meaningful human interaction, both in the workplace and beyond, as part of our evolving society. Automation should enhance lives, not strip away dignity and purpose from workers. We need a collective push to ensure human creativity, empathy, and talent are not just seen but cherished. Only then can we begin to create a world where individuals are empowered to thrive, and the damage done by dehumanizing work processes is mitigated.