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Employment
No place has seen a greater impact of the use of ICT than the workplace. Most businesses have benefited from the change, but there are some that have struggled to adapt to the new practices.

Some types of job have disappeared - mainly practical skilled jobs. Some examples of jobs that are on the decline:

  • boring, repetitive jobs in factories. Robotic machines have replaced humans.
  • jobs in hostile environments - Robots perform tasks in unhealthy or uncomfortable situations. Eg. Paint spraying in a car factory.
  • old-style office jobs - word processors have replaced typists and databases have replaced office clerks.

The type of skills needed at work have changed from practical skills to ICT skills.

Old-style office.
There is good news. Some new jobs have been created by the development of ICT.
Some examples of jobs created because of ICT:
  • computer programmers - writing software for computers and robotic machinery.
  • systems analysts - designing and creating new ICT systems.
  • ICT or network technicians - Any business or organisation that has many computers or a network will need a technician to manage the system and troubleshoot problems.
  • website designers.
  • ICT trainers and teachers.
  • database managers
  • ...and many more.
In most cases, the workers in businesses have not been sacked - they have been re-trained to use the new ICT equipment.

Modern office.