Transport 2040 (4th Industrial Revolution) The implications of the 4th industrial revolution on transport workers. It took 2 years of research to put together the first impartial assessment generated by the World Maritime University – WMU and financed by the International Transport Workers’ Federation – ITF to understand the implications of Artificial Intelligence, technology, and Automatization in the transport sector, especially on the future employment of transport workers.
The most important guideline for Governments, businesses, regulation bodies, and unions to come together in a discussion to draft actions and policy making for the future of transport workers.
See full detailed report with case studies for each country profile and data, here.
CONCLUSIONS
- Transport volume is bound to increase by 2040 but at a decreasing rate
- The introduction of automation(Autom) would be evolutionary rather than revolutionary,
- Transport will become more efficient leading to greater productivity
- The global demand for transport workers will change due to the advances in technology and automation (Techs&Autom).
- Technology has the potential for reducing manpower requirements, but the trend in the expansion of international trade can counterbalance such reduction.
- The adoption rate of technology and automation in the transport industry is slow particularly in developing countries, making low to middle-skilled jobs redundant.
- High skilled work will be complemented rather than replaced
- Factors, such as skills, tasks, labour costs, demography or transport modes, determine the level of impact created by technology and automation on the labour force
- Factors that determine technology adoption: economic benefits, regulation and governance, social acceptance, knowledge and skills, and labour market dynamics.
- Requalification, retraining and acquisition of new skills are key to a successful transition.
- Risk of a skills mismatch and gender dimension to be taken into account
- Businesses and the government are accountable for the costs
- Businesses need to recognize that human capital investment is an asset rather than a liability.
- policy-makers, regulators and educators will need to play a fundamental role in helping those who are displaced to be re-skilled or retrained
- Governments are accountable for the macro environment through policy adoption and implementation at the relevant international, national or regional body level.
- Regarding the society; change, adaptability and flexibility are the features in the upcoming era.
- In emerging economies, automation in employment will be weaker than in advanced economies. The lower automation rate will lead to fewer job displacements, lower capital investment and smaller productivity increases
- Society must manage the skills gaps from the adoption of new technologies
- The gap is widest between developed and developing countries
- Middle-level income countries have the most catching up to do in terms of introducing technological innovation, investment, regulation and infrastructure, including in the maritime sector
- The 4th Industrial Revolution is creating a large divide between countries socially and economically
- The increasing inequality in advanced economies between low-skilled and high-skilled workers will cause an imbalance on a number of levels, low-skilled workers mandate a call for improved to the educational systems and the regulatory environment
RECOMMENDATIONS
Please refer to the full report for the specific 4 recommendations. FullAvanteNews encourages to share the report due to the quality of the content and contribution. The case studies can reflect the reality of your own country, and in the long run, might be helpful to start conversations about the future of transport workers.
