ByRachel Wells,
Contributor.
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When Amazon’s internal strategy documents suggest that robots, AI, and overall automation will replace an estimated 600,000 jobs that would otherwise hire humans (more than half a million) by 2033, take note.
The second largest employer in the U.S. has spoken, and it’s a strong indication of where we’re heading in the future of work. That scale of disruption will leave few job categories at the big tech giant untouched, and many workers will need a plan B. This, if anything, is a stark reminder of how AI is disrupting the workforce at scale, and the need for upskilling and reskilling in other areas.
For context, this is happening even as the tech giant plans to double its output through the next few years.
Karen Weise, writing for The New York Times (who first reported this story), notes that “Amazon’s plans could have profound impact on blue-collar jobs throughout the country and serve as a model for other companies like Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, and UPS. The company transformed the U.S. work force as it created a booming demand for warehousing and delivery jobs. But now, as it leads the way for automation, those roles could become more technical, higher paid and more scarce.”
Which Jobs Are Most At Risk From AI And Automation?
Whenever there is a wave of layoffs or the threat of roles being cut out from an organizational structure, the usual likely culprits tend to be roles that are repetitive or routine in nature.
These roles also do not typically require strategy and strong decision-making and creative skills, which makes it easier for them to be at risk and liable to automation.
Here are some examples of roles that would likely be targeted by Amazon as they ramp up AI implementation across their global operations:
- Warehouse workers and order fulfilment operatives
- Entry-level logistics roles, and last-mile delivery (think driverless delivery)
- Administrative roles
- Entry-level initial contact customer service (If you’ve ordered from Amazon recently, you’d already see that the chatbot does an excellent job of handling a wide range of customer service requests without you ever needing to speak to a real person.)
- Entry-level coding and web development roles
Why Are These Jobs Are At Risk Of Automation?
Throughout the supply chain, there are plenty of opportunities for automation because much of it consists of predictable workflows. As a result, Amazon will naturally anticipate high cost-savings from robots.
And even though the entire Amazon workforce won’t disappear, the existing responsibilities of remaining jobs can be expected to change significantly.
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What You Should Do Right Now To AI-Proof Your Career
If you work in a blue-collar role liable to automation, or you’re concerned that your knowledge-based job is at risk of AI, here are some things you can do to future-proof your career and finances:
- Upskill into less automatable skill sets, focusing on areas like strategy, critical thinking and analysis, and leadership
- Learn to work with AI to further your career and boost your salary; learn skills like Gen AI and prompt engineering, AI ethics, agentic AI, etc.
- Use upskilling platforms to gain microcredentials to evidence your relevance to employers, for example, Coursera, Pluralsight, edX, LinkedIn Learning, etc.
- Build a solid digital footprint online, especially on LinkedIn, and include your newly-acquired certifications within your resume.
Today is day one of your transition. Start now to upskill and prove your value in ways that robots and AI can never replicate.
