As Baby Boomers Retire, German Businesses Turn To Robots ⚙️

⚙️A recent article reported that small and midsized German companies are adopting automation due to labor shortages caused by the gradual exit of Germany's post-war "baby boom" generation from the workforce.

📈 Over half of German companies are struggling to fill positions, resulting in an estimated economic setback of almost €100 billion per year.

🤖 Companies like S&D Blech turn to innovation and digitalization as a response to this skilled labor deficit. This could not only ease labor crunch but also revolutionize the factory floor by replacing dangerous, back-breaking jobs with robotic counterparts.

🌍 We're seeing similar shifts in developed economies, where emerging technologies like AI and robotics will greatly alter the world of work. Just as Nela Richardson said, "Everybody will do their job differently."

💡 All these movements point to an increased dependency on automation that is both inevitable and exciting.

🤝 Despite initial fears of job loss, the broader acceptance of robots among both workers and trade unions suggests a positive shift in perception, recognizing them as helpers to address labor shortages rather than replacements.

🍀 But as Matthias Krust pointed out, "There is nothing more flexible than a human." Automation, while influential and transformative, is not an ultimate panacea. We must continue to value and cultivate human capabilities, particularly in complex and differentiated production scenarios.

💼 I see this as a clear indication of the significant role we will all play in shaping this new landscape. The gradual adoption of automation should be designed to phase in robotics while phasing out retiring workers, always with an eye on creating a future workspace that serves and values all.

#DigitalRevolution #WorkforceoftheFuture #Insights

Read the article: https://www.reuters.com/technology/baby-boomers-retire-german-businesses-turn-robots-2023-10-27/

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