Technology is taking all our jobs. Or is it?
This year, Uganda is hosting the 11th ICT4D conference, a global digital development conference that explores how technology is making a difference in people’s lives across the world.
During one of the sessions, one curious mind inquired whether the increased usage of technology will affect the human labour force in the future, if it was not already causing serious effects.
One day to International Labour Day, this question was not only relevant, but required a very reassuring answer – one that the speaker gave. As the conference session adjourned for lunch, I took a few minutes to think of what I would respond had I been asked the same question.
During the advent of computerisation, there was imminent fear for loss of jobs. Twenty five years down the road, it is apparent that computers have enhanced the standard of life and created jobs. There is substantial employment growth in occupations involving cognitive tasks, data processing, coding, problem solving, et al.
Computerisation has improved efficiency, productivity and systems management across all sectors to include, but not limited to the service sector, manufacturing and agriculture.
The pace of technological innovation is still increasing, with more sophisticated software technologies. Notwithstanding, to remain relevant, one needs to attain a new skill set.
The fourth industrial revolution is at the door step. It will change how we live and work generally forcing the world to undergo major processes of adaptation that require apt matching skills.
For example, manual accounting processes will be replaced with data processing/coding requiring accountants to get these skills.
Then there is the informal sector that is leveraging technology to build their businesses. At the Airtel My Hustle finale recently, I listened to youth entrepreneurs’ stories about how Airtel data and Airtel Money had played a vital role in their business development.
Entrepreneurs like Edrine Sempebwa, a 27-year-old Economics graduate; Pius Enywaru and George Nsamba have turned into job creators by leveraging technology to build online businesses such as SpareWo, opening consultancies such as Fastlane Media and Communications and doing films.
All in all, without technologies, the different youth who took part in My Hustle, season one would be searching for jobs instead of creating them.
However, for technology to continue improving, the different sectors supporting the Ugandan economy, it has to be affordable, reliable and scalable to ensure everyone can benefit from it.
This is what Airtel has done with the massive investment in the network to ensure countrywide broadband and 4G connectivity as well as the revamping of their data bundles to provide more value at the same exact price.
As we celebrated the International Labour Day 2019, let us commit to change how we view technology from a job taker to a job creator and harness its potential to improve our lives through entrepreneurship and education.
Mr Somasekhar is the managing
director, Airtel Uganda
