The Effects of Technology on Arizona’s Workforce

Technological advances make our lives easier, but also change the workforce, making many jobs obsolete. We take a look at the jobs that may soon be going away, and what careers are on the horizon.

From apps on our phones to food delivery drones, it seems like nearly every day, we are presented with a new way to use technology to make our lives easier. It’s no surprise employers are also utilizing technological advancements to streamline work in their companies. So what does that mean for Arizona’s workforce, especially when robots work more quickly and don’t require sick days? Well, the good news is that while many occupations are becoming obsolete, the very same state-of-the-art developments are creating new opportunities for Arizona workers.

Jobs becoming obsolete:

Here are some of the jobs that are quickly being replaced by robots. 

Taxi Drivers. Yes, even Uber and Lift drivers - Trends are showing that within the next 5-10 years, drivers operating taxis, Ubers and Lyfts, will be replaced by self-driving cars.

Farmers and Agricultural Workers - Believe it or not, farmworkers are losing their jobs to robots that can milk cows, fertilize and harvest crops.

Postal Workers, Mail Sorters, Carriers and Clerks - As digital communications and advertising increases, traditional “snail mail” continues to decline, thus, eliminating the need for many postal workers. Mail sorting is heading to automation and deliveries are completed by drones.

Fast Food Workers - Many fast food restaurants are utilizing ATM-like machines and/or apps for customers to place food orders. Cooking staff are also anticipated to be replaced by burger-flipping bots within the next ten years.

Door-to-door Sales Workers - With our culture being less social, face-to-face occupations like this one, have already began to decline significantly.

Jobs of the Future:

Worried? Don’t be. Technology will open many doors to job seekers, and many occupations that have been around for centuries will continue to increase recruitments.

Teachers - While, it’s not exactly a job of the future, Business Insider predicts more than 78,000 new positions for teachers will open up within the next ten years.

Customer Service Representatives - Regardless of how digital our society appears to be, Arizona job seekers should still brush up on their people skills. According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), customer service jobs are expected to grow by more than 26,000 positions.

Computer- Related Occupations - It’s no surprise that computers aren’t going anywhere, and we will still need thousands of Arizonans to work on them in positions including software developers, application developers, computer systems analysts, and information technology (IT) workers, which are all projected to continue to increase in Arizona.

Healthcare - The need for qualified doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners is not going anywhere. In fact, according to OEO, registered nurses are going to be more in-demand than ever, with more than 16,000 positions becoming available over the next 10 years.

Construction Laborers - While technology is not bypassing the construction industry with the arrival of robot run bricklayers and auto-driving cranes and bulldozers, Arizona does not foresee a decline in the need of laborers in this field.

For more information about available jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities in Arizona, please visit https://arizonaatwork.com/. 

By Jillian Seamans