Nearly 60,000 jobs in Northern Ireland are at high risk of automation, according a study released last month by the Nevin Economic Research Institute. In addition, 58% of all jobs are at risk of substantial change over the medium term because of advancements in automation technology.

Overall, the study found:

• 7.1% of Northern Ireland jobs are at high risk of automation, or 56,900 jobs
• 31.6% were at mid-high, or 253,224 jobs
• 26.7% were at mid-low, or 213,845 jobs
• 12.8% were low, or 102,952 jobs
• 21.8% were not classified, or 174,935 jobs

“The risk to jobs from automation however is greatly dependent upon the occupation or industrial sector in which a worker is employed, as well as the sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the worker”, according to the report.

Jobs in “distribution, hotels and restaurants” have the highest risk with 26.8% being at risk of automation. On the low end, only 0.4% of “public administration, education and health” jobs are at risk.

Risk of automation also tends to decline as skill level rises.

The report is “The Future of Work: The impact of automation technologies for employment in Northern Ireland”.

Recently, technologist Byron Reese spoke about robots and artificial intelligence in an article in the current issue of Staffing Industry Review magazine.