EDITORIAL

THE FUTURE OF WORK

BY FR RAFAEL ARMADA | EDITOR

ON 30 NOVEMBER 2022, ChatGPT, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) hatbot or conversational robot was launched. Capable of answering any type of question with a logical meaning and formulating human conversations, in the first two months on the market, it has reached 100 million active users becoming the fastest growing app of all time.

Speculations about AI’s influence on our lives, and the future of work have arisen. Will it supplant humans, destroying a high number of jobs? Ushering in, as we are, the 4th Industrial Revolution and the implementation of Information Technology taking place, a sense of insecurity among workers in traditional sectors is quite understandable. Workers feel threatened by robots which might take their jobs. Their anxiety is not baseless, since AI has the capacity to perform redundant tasks and process huge amounts of information accurately and at an incredible speed. Nevertheless, AI has its limits, i.e. establishing human relations, and is still imperfect in generating unpredictable and creative responses as humans do.

Many experts, among them Juan José Fernández, Professor of the Department of Business Law at the University of León, Spain, consider that after every technological revolution, there has been an increase in productivity, followed by the creation of more and better jobs. Even if some jobs are lost, new ones appear. (elpais.com)

Be that as it may, it seems evident that our flexibility and formation will be necessary to adapt to new jobs as well as to keep on learning new skills throughout our lives. Work is an integral dimension of the human person which dignifies us—a work which pursues the common good and takes care of creation and the next generations. On the occasion of the 109 years of the founding of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Pope Francis reminded us of how crucial it is to integrate everyone into the job market, counteracting a ‘throw away’ culture which leaves many people jobless, abandoned on the margins of society, under the indifference of the rest. (vaticannews.va). In 2023 the ILO will promote a Global Coalition for Social Justice to strengthen global solidarity and to bring about investments in decent work and reduce inequality. Pope Francis also advocates for dialogue among governments, business people, workers, various religious confessions and Christian communities, aimed at achieving dignified work for all.

The informal economy often lacks mechanisms of social protection and many migrants, particularly women, are excluded from any social benefit and are forced to accept jobs under exploitative conditions.

Youth are also subject to the worst effects of unemployment with a global figure among those aged between 15–24 which is three times higher than the adult population. Currently, two-thirds of the global youth labour force remain without a basic set of skills, a circumstance that restricts their labour market opportunities and pushes them into lower-quality forms of employment. Education and new skills training are absolutely critical for them.

South Africa currently experiences several challenges in terms of job creation, but undoubtedly has the potential to join the list of African countries which foresee a brighter future in employment in the decades to come.

In April we approach the central feast of our Christian faith—the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The celebration of Easter calls us to be beacons of hope and to work tirelessly to promote in the world a dignified living for every person and their families.

Happy Easter to all!