Will robots steal your job in the future?

（Xinhua Photo)

Nearly half of all jobs in Japan could be stolen by robots or accomplished using artificial intelligence in the next ten to twenty years, according to recent speculation by Japanese and British researchers.

Will half the population face unemployment?

Japanese think tank Nomura Research Institute and Oxford University conducted a joint survey, which found that that computer applications could potentially impact 601 different occupations in Japan. A total of 42.8 million employees are engaged in these 601 occupations.

Researchers believe that if 66 percent of a job can be carried out using artificial intelligence or robots, it can be regarded as replaceable. The survey shows that 49 percent of Japanese employees could be replaced by computers.

Japan's robotic bear. It can carry patients in wheelchairs to their beds or to the bathroom. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Similar studies previously conducted by Oxford University show that 47 percent of all positions in the U.S. and 35 percent of positions in Britain could be done by robots.

Which jobs are likely to be stolen?

Occupations such as general clerk, taxi driver, cashier, security guard, building cleaner and hotel room attendant are easy for computers to take over because they do not require special knowledge or skills, researchers predicted.

Robot receptionist in a hotel in Nagasaki, Japan. All the work in the hotel is done by robots. (Xinhua Photo)

On the other hand, occupations that need interpersonal exchange, including doctor, teacher, academic researcher, tour guide and beautician have a lower possibility of being taken over by robots.

However, Nomura Research Institute noted that the study did not consider the balance between supply and demand of labor forces involved in these occupations.

Robots "liberate" labor force

 A robot works together with an employee on the assembly line in a Japanese plant. (Xinhua/Reuters)

Due to a shortage of labor forces, Japan is a global leader in robot research and application. More than 250,000 industrial robots are used in Japanese enterprises. Japan ranks first in the world for its use of robots in industry.

Japan also boasts the world's first robot hotel and has developed a series of robots used for disaster relief. In addition, it has an emotion-displaying robot that has served as a film actress.

The beautiful humanoid robot. (Xinhua Photo)

Meanwhile, experts said that one of the goals for robots taking over human occupations is to liberate people from physical labor and allow them to engage in more interesting work that requires creativity and compassion.