We have heard several people, including Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, bureaucrats, and intellectuals encouraging the youth from the state not to look only for government jobs but explore other avenues like entrepreneurship, business and other professions too. They didn’t say so for no reason, in fact, they were sharing their thoughts out of concern for the educated youths after observing and analysing the present economic climate in the state and around the world. Whether or not we take their words seriously, the future can be harsh for those who refuse to adapt to change.
Thousands of fresh graduates from the state enter the job market every year, which is encouraging, but at the same time discouraging as a good majority of them choose to fight for a handful of posts in state government departments instead of looking for other avenues outside the realms of public sector enterprises. The result is some get what they want while most are left jobless and frustrated. It’s not that the government, both at the centre and state, is intentionally abstaining from recruiting people. It is apparent that job market in public as well as private sectors is saturated because of growing population and advancements in technology.
Have you ever asked yourself why banks in the country are merging and our once-beloved All India Radio stations have closed down in several cities? One change that will have a profound effect on the world, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries in the near future is automation via artificial intelligence (AI).
Experts are of the opinion that a significant percentage of jobs in almost all sectors will disappear in the next few years because of AI and robotics, as it will reduce the need for staff in the back-office. Traditional jobs like passbook updating, cash deposit, salary uploads etc in banking sector will slowly vanish like the typewriters after the arrival of computer technology. People do not have to hire security guards anymore today as smart home devices that use AI, such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa can keep a watch of intruders round the clock.
A single machine can perform tasks that otherwise need hundreds of humans. This means job cuts will happen across major firms in the future; it has actually started. The change can be overwhelming and push many to a situation of helplessness but it will be an opportunity for hardworking and innovative people to fulfil their dreams as technology can be used to enhance lives, manufacture more units and make more profit. The future belongs to entrepreneurs and not government job seekers.
