Companies will need more people in the near-term to meet the demand stimulated by automation, not less, according to ManpowerGroup Inc.’s (NYSE: MAN) new report, “Robots Need Not Apply: Human Solutions in the Skills Revolution.” The survey of 2,000 US employers found that 91% will maintain or increase headcount in the next two to three years as industries shift to more advanced, automated processes.

While most employers in the US expect overall headcount to increase as a result of digitization, the impact varies by function:

• Administrative and office: -6% (10% increasing, 16% decreasing)
• Human resources: -2% (5% increasing, 7% decreasing)
• Finance and accounting: no change (4% increasing and 4% decreasing)
• IT: +3% (9% increasing, 6% decreasing)
• Manufacturing and production: +6% (18% increasing, 12% decreasing)
• Frontline and customer-facing: +10% (25% increasing, 15% decreasing)

According to the report, the best blend of high-tech and high-touch will be the combination of human strengths with technical and digital know-how: 61% of companies said communication skills, written and verbal, are their most-valued soft skill followed by customer service at 57% and collaboration and problem-solving, both at 52%.

“Digitization will impact every industry in the US creating new jobs that require different skills,” said Becky Frankiewicz, ManpowerGroup North America president. “Our research shows this is good news for people, provided they are ready to upskill and reskill for a world of work that is more digital and fast-paced than ever before. Savvy employers are helping workers succeed by identifying skills adjacencies — those skills that are closely connected and can be adapted to new roles — and by offering people the chance to earn and learn with shorter bursts of on-the-job, experiential training.”

ManpowerGroup commissioned Infocorp to carry out quantitative research in October 2017, surveying 19,718 employers across six industry sectors in 42 countries.