WASHINGTON — Computers and automation are showing up in more and more places: home heating and cooling systems, car manufacturing and even cars that could soon drive themselves.
With this increased automation comes a lesser reliance on a human workforce.
A recent report from Old Dominion University says some estimates suggest that 1.9 million non-farm jobs in Virginia could be at risk of being replaced by robots in just 20 years. That is 51 percent of all employment in the commonwealth.
Some industries would be more affected by others. By their analytical estimation using a formula developed for a broader, though questioned Oxford study, many lower-paying and repetitive jobs would be at risk.
The most susceptible industry would be food preparation. The researchers say that 87.5 percent of those jobs would be replaced by automation. In Virginia, that would displace just under 279,000 workers who make an average salary of $22,870.
Right behind the food industry is office and administrative support, which would be the most devastating to the state. Under 77 percent of those jobs could be replaced by robots, displacing more than 422,000 Virginia workers who make an average salary of $36,570.
Other highly susceptible jobs are sales, grounds cleaning and production, which could each see about 75 percent of their jobs being done by robots. Those salaries range from about $25,000 for the cleaning and maintenance workers to $38,000 for sales people.
The safest jobs are those in community and social services. The researchers say only 4 percent of those jobs could be done for robots. Workers in that industry make about $48,000 each year in Virginia.
Other safe industries include education, management, and computer and math operations. About 12-13 percent of those jobs could be automated, good news for workers who make anywhere from $54,000 in education to $128,530 in management.
The Oxford study suggests that 47 percent of all American jobs could be done by robots in 20 years. However, the report also says that an OECD study suggests it could be a much smaller impact, closer to 9 percent.
