It's a trend straight out of science fiction—machines made by people are increasingly replacing them on the job.
However, for many workers—male or female—the rise of artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics is no longer the stuff of science fiction, but instead a new reality rendering them obsolete in the manufacturing industries that formerly employed them, according MagnifyMoney, a personal finance website.
A June 2019 report published in Oxford Economics estimates that robots could replace up to 20 million manufacturing jobs worldwide by 2030 and that an estimated 260,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs have already disappeared since 2000.
MagnifyMoney found that jobs in the manufacturing, hospitality and tourism, and data entry/processing fields, which did not require an educational requirement above a high school diploma, ranked highest for potential automation. From self-drive ride hail cars to hotel concierge virtual assistants, machines are replacing humans at a cost that does not include health insurance, vacation and sick days, or pension plans.
By examining the 100 largest U.S. cities, and comparing the risk of automation of certain occupations to the number of people working in those fields, MagnifyMoney identified the areas of the nation with the most jobs at risk.
The following, in ascending order, are the top 10 places with the most jobs at risk of automation:
10. Greensboro, N.C.
North Carolina is the center of the U.S. textile industry, as well as home to other manufacturers. Out of 308,570 jobs in Greensboro, the state’s third-largest city, 196,278 (63.61%) are at risk of being replaced by automation.
9. Sarasota, Fla.
The Sunshine State is a haven for retirees and a magnet for automation, particularly Sarasota, a city on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Out of 245,710 jobs in Sarasota, 156,305 (63%) are at risk of being replaced by automation.
8. Scranton, Pa.
For the past two decades, major financial and professional services corporations have located their businesses in Scranton, and many of those businesses are automating. Out of 216,460 jobs in Scranton, 139,006 (64%) are at risk of being replaced by automation.
7. Fort Myers, Fla.
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Fla. The city is also a major retail and food services employer, putting those jobs at risk of automation. Out of 226,220 jobs in Fort Myers, 145,931 (64%) are at risk of being replaced by automation.
6. Daytona Beach, Fla.
Renowned for its Daytona International Speedway, boardwalk rides and bandshell, Daytona Beach is a tourist destination, with many of those jobs at risk of automation. Out of 159,430 jobs in Daytona Beach, 102,922 (64%) are at risk of automation.
5. El Paso, Texas
Once a major center for copper refining, El Paso’s three large school districts and the University of Texas at El Paso are now among its largest employers. If you don’t have a college degree, you’re at risk of automation. Out of 258,070 jobs in El Paso, 166,663 (64%) are at risk of automation.
4. Riverside, Calif.
Riverside is the birthplace of California’s citrus industry. With the industry in decline, however, the county of Riverside is now the area's largest employer with jobs that are at risk of automation. Out of 1,294,930 jobs in Riverside, 836,670 (64%) are at risk of automation.
3. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
The first Publix supermarket opened in Winter Haven in 1930. Today, Publix’s corporate offices are located in Lakeland. Its the area's second-largest employer, and many of the company's retail jobs are at risk of automation. Out of 180,900 jobs in Lakeland-Winter Haven, 117,925 (65%) are at risk of automation.
2. Stockton, Calif.
Built during California’s Gold Rush, Stockton has long been an agricultural community. These days, however, its largest employers are hospitals and local government, industries at risk of automation. Out of 1297,5620 jobs in Stockton, 130,748 (66%) are at risk of automation.
1. Las Vegas
Las Vegas still has plenty of low-paying, entry-level jobs in tourism and hospitality, accounting for one-third of the region’s workforce. That spells trouble for workers in Sin City because those jobs are at risk of automation. Out of 866,620 jobs, 578,023 (66%) are at risk of automation.
The full report can be viewed here.
