Digitalisation of the economy and its impact on labour markets —

<strong>Digitalisation</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>economy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>its</strong> <strong>impact</strong> on labour markets
The main recommendations <strong>of</strong> this report deal with:
— an agenda <strong>of</strong> inclusive robotisation: robots must not impose <strong>the</strong>mselves
upon workers <strong>and</strong>/or replace <strong>the</strong>se workers but must be regarded as
supplementary tools that can be used to make workers more productive
in <strong>the</strong> framework <strong>of</strong> a ‘co-creation’;
— <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> supplementary skills <strong>and</strong> qualifications at all levels
<strong>of</strong> education: technical issues relating to digitalisation are indeed
important but <strong>the</strong>y are not <strong>the</strong> essential questions which, on <strong>the</strong>
contrary, must be: ‘What is typically human about <strong>the</strong> work we do?
Which tasks, relationships <strong>and</strong> responsibilities will continue to require
<strong>the</strong> human touch, or will we specifically want to entrust (or continue to
entrust) to people?’;
— ownership <strong>of</strong> work: numerous studies have shown that this level <strong>of</strong>
ownership <strong>and</strong> autonomy is important for productivity. The question
<strong>the</strong>n becomes: how to get workers <strong>and</strong> machines to work toge<strong>the</strong>r while
allowing workers to retain responsibility for <strong>the</strong>ir own work;
— finally, <strong>the</strong> WRR report tackles <strong>the</strong> emerging question <strong>of</strong> inequalities in
<strong>the</strong> digital society, an aspect that has not yet been clarified for it is
impossible to predict which categories will be <strong>the</strong> worst affected by this
trend. The recommendation to <strong>the</strong> government, accordingly, is as
follows: ‘Policymakers <strong>the</strong>refore need to create a portfolio <strong>of</strong> measures
that will help <strong>and</strong> support people where necessary. It is also important
to consider whe<strong>the</strong>r workers can (<strong>and</strong> should) become co-owners <strong>of</strong>
robots <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r machines, as we believe that co-ownership is one way
in which workers can continue to master robots’ (WRR 2015).
The report concludes with an appeal to involve all <strong>the</strong> live forces <strong>of</strong> society in
this inclusive agenda: ‘We <strong>the</strong>refore advocate an inclusive robot agenda for
governments, employers <strong>and</strong> employees, <strong>the</strong>ir representative organisations,
researchers <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r stakeholders that will help us master robots in a variety
<strong>of</strong> different ways’.
2.12 Pol<strong>and</strong>
Innolot
http://www.innolot.avioaero.com/
Innolot program aims to finance scientific research on innovative solutions for <strong>the</strong>
aerospace industry. It is a result <strong>of</strong> agreement between National Center for Research
<strong>and</strong> Development (NCBiR) <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> group <strong>of</strong> associations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> aerospace companies
which represents Polish Aerospace Technological Platform.
WP 2016.02
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