Original version

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

The Compass v2 Podcast

The Compass

Documentaries

Factual: Life Stories

With ideas too big for a single episode, The Compass presents mini-series about society

Surprising stories from unusual places. With ideas too big for a single episode, The Compass presents mini-series about the environment and politics, culture and society.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

The Compass: Automation Nation: Automation and the future of jobs

Factual

Automation Nation

09/06/2021 GMT

Automation and the future of jobs

BBC World Service - The Compass, Automation Nation, Automation and the future of jobs

What does the new wave of high-tech automation mean for jobs?

Daniel Susskind asks what the new wave of high-tech automation means for jobs.

Economist Daniel Susskind asks what the new wave of high-tech automation means for jobs. He hears from a company leading the way in the development of driverless trucks, and a long-haul truck driver who’s deeply worried about it. If jobs like trucking disappear, many of America’s millions of drivers may be forced into sectors like the service industry, but, as we hear on our visit to the world’s first automated restaurant, that isn’t immune to automation either. With technology already encroaching on traditionally white collar jobs as well, there’s only so much education and retraining can do.

The Compass: Automation Nation

Daniel Susskind explores automation’s impact on the future of work in America.

Technology has complemented our work since the invention of the wheel, but we may finally be approaching a point where automation stands to replace some human jobs entirely. Economist Dr Daniel Susskind explores how automation is affecting work in the United States, from fully automated restaurants to driverless trucks, and hears from the people whose livelihoods are being affected. A world without work could be a utopia, but without the correct policy to ensure people still have incomes and a sense of purpose, it could look more like a nightmare.

Image: A robotic hand touches a human hand (Credit: Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Compass

Automation Nation

Automation and the future of jobs

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

About BBC World Service