the prospects for employment

at an unprecedented speed.

Things that just 5 years ago were done by humans,

are now done by machines and code.

The long-term benefits are probably positive

as things will likely become cheaper

and we'll have more time for leisure.

Until then individuals not prepared for the changes

may be replaced by machines,

get laid off or take pay cuts.

To figure out if your job will be affected,

MIT economist David Autor

defined three questions you should ask yourself.

First, will technology compliment

or replace the job you provide?

Computers can't think for themselves.

But they can and will do jobs that follow clear rules

so programmers can tell them what to do.

Therefore, people employed in jobs

that can be programmed away

will be driven out of work

or find themselves in less paying positions.

On the other hand,

people that use technology to become more productive,

will hold onto their positions

and even see a raise in income.

Second, is the demand for the product

or service you help provide elastic?

If you run a cleaning service in a city where most people

still mop their own floors,

technology might help you to offer

your services more efficiently.

The resulting lower prices,

makes your service suddenly more attractive

to low-income households

and the additional demand creates new jobs.

However,

if you work in the kitchen of a noodle shop empire

there will be a point at which no matter

how efficient you make the noodles,

people won't buy an additional bowl

- they are full.

Therefore, the quantity demanded for food

is not very elastic

and more efficiency will not create more jobs,

but rather the opposite.

Third, can you easily be replaced by other people?

If your job is easy to learn and can be done by others,

then you will feel pressure on your wages.

But if you are highly skilled or you possess unique character strengths,

then there will be less competition for your position.

Thus offering you job security and a stable income.

Until societies implement good models

to share the wealth and the leisure time

that technological advances will bring us,

the most creative problem solvers

and adaptive team players

will reap the fruits of an uncertain future.

Children that start school today,

will look for a job in 20 years.

What do you think?

What jobs will most likely disappear in your community

and how should schools and parents

prepare their kids to do meaningful work then?