Short answer
Future product and service design must account for a workforce increasingly focused on complex cognitive and socio-emotional skills, creating opportunities for tools that support these human strengths.
- Field
- Innovation & Markets
- Source
- Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) (University of Oxford) (2017)
- Method
- Econometric modelling and scenario analysis
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Technological advancements, particularly automation and AI, are projected to significantly alter the job market, leading to a demand shift towards skills that are difficult to automate. This innovation & markets research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) (University of Oxford). Using Econometric modelling and scenario analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Future product and service design must account for a workforce increasingly focused on complex cognitive and socio-emotional skills, creating opportunities for tools that support these human strengths.
Automation will displace 15% of jobs by 2030, necessitating a focus on uniquely human skills.
Technological advancements, particularly automation and AI, are projected to significantly alter the job market, leading to a demand shift towards skills that are difficult to automate.
Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) (University of Oxford) · 2017
Key Findings
- 01Automation is expected to displace a significant portion of existing jobs.
- 02Demand for uniquely human skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence will increase.
- 03The nature of many jobs will change, requiring adaptation and reskilling.
Application
Design takeaway
Future product and service design must account for a workforce increasingly focused on complex cognitive and socio-emotional skills, creating opportunities for tools that support these human strengths.
How to apply
When developing new products or services, consider how they will interact with a workforce that is increasingly valued for its creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. Design interfaces and functionalities that support and amplify these human attributes.
Project actions
- 01Consider how your design project can support or enhance human skills that are difficult to automate.
- 02Research emerging technologies and their potential impact on user roles and tasks.
- 03Think about the long-term usability and adaptability of your design in a changing job market.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a forward-looking perspective on employment trends.
- +Utilizes robust modelling techniques to forecast future scenarios.
Limitations
The exact timeline and extent of job displacement are uncertain. The study provides a forecast, not a definitive outcome.
Reliability & validity
The study's reliability is based on the robustness of its econometric models and the quality of data used. Validity is supported by expert consensus on technological trends, but future outcomes are inherently uncertain.
Think critically
To what extent can 'uniquely human skills' truly remain un-automatable, and how might AI continue to encroach on these domains?
Design Principles
"Design for augmentation: create solutions that enhance, rather than replace, uniquely human capabilities."
Understanding future skill demands is crucial for strategic planning in product development, service design, and educational offerings. Designers and engineers need to anticipate how evolving job roles will impact user needs and the adoption of new technologies.
What This Means for Your Design
Computers and robots will take over some jobs, but jobs needing human creativity, problem-solving, and people skills will become more important.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the focus on specific user skills or the design of tools that support human-AI collaboration in your design project.
- 2.Cite this as evidence for the evolving nature of work and the skills required by users.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research indicates that by 2030, automation will significantly reshape the employment landscape, displacing approximately 15% of jobs. This shift underscores a growing demand for uniquely human skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, which are less susceptible to automation. Consequently, design projects should consider how to support and enhance these human capabilities, ensuring products and services remain relevant and valuable in an evolving workforce.
Source
Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) (University of Oxford)
The future of skills: employment in 2030
journal · 2017
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about automation will displace 15% of jobs by 2030, necessitating a focus on uniquely human skills?
- Future product and service design must account for a workforce increasingly focused on complex cognitive and socio-emotional skills, creating opportunities for tools that support these human strengths. Evidence: Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) (University of Oxford) (2017).
- Why does "Automation will displace 15% of jobs by 2030, necessitating a focus on uniquely human skills." matter for design?
- Understanding future skill demands is crucial for strategic planning in product development, service design, and educational offerings. Designers and engineers need to anticipate how evolving job roles will impact user needs and the adoption of new technologies.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Future product and service design must account for a workforce increasingly focused on complex cognitive and socio-emotional skills, creating opportunities for tools that support these human strengths.
- What were the main findings?
- Automation is expected to displace a significant portion of existing jobs.. Demand for uniquely human skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence will increase.. The nature of many jobs will change, requiring adaptation and reskilling.
- What research method was used?
- Econometric modelling and scenario analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2017 journal from Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) (University of Oxford).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing new products or services, consider how they will interact with a workforce that is increasingly valued for its creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. Design interfaces and functionalities that support and amplify these human attributes.
- What are the limitations?
- Projections are subject to the pace of technological development and adoption, which can be unpredictable. The study's focus is on broad trends, and specific industry impacts may vary.