Public is broadly supportive of workforce automation being limited to “dangerous and dirty” jobs | Pew Research Center

October 3, 2017

2. Americans’ attitudes toward a future in which robots and computers can do many human jobs

Public is broadly supportive of workforce automation being limited to “dangerous and dirty” jobs

Public is broadly supportive of workforce automation being limited to “dangerous and dirty” jobs

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Public is broadly supportive of workforce automation being limited to “dangerous and dirty” jobs

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2. Americans’ attitudes toward a future in which robots and computers can do many human jobs
One-in-five Americans find concept of machines doing most human jobs in the future to be extremely realistic
More worry than enthusiasm about machines doing many human jobs
Those most familiar with concept of machines taking many human jobs find concept more realistic and express more enthusiasm – but still express substantial concerns
Public expects more negative than positive impacts from widespread automation of jobs
Public is broadly supportive of workforce automation being limited to “dangerous and dirty” jobs
Democrats more supportive of guaranteed income, national service program in the event of widespread job losses due to automation
Partisan divisions on government’s obligation to help workers displaced by machines; educational divisions on whether businesses should be limited in how many jobs they can automate
Americans view certain professions as being at greater risk of automation than others
Workers in hospitality, retail, and banking/finance industries see jobs as most at risk of automation
Americans who have been impacted by automation have differing views about a future in which machines do many human jobs
Americans see a wide range of advances coming to pass in the next 20 years