Job loss
Replacement/displacement of human jobs by a technology system or set of systems, leading to increased unemployment, inequality, reduced consumer spending and social friction
ENTITY
3 - Other
INTENT
3 - Other
TIMING
3 - Other
Risk ID
mit1351
Domain lineage
6. Socioeconomic and Environmental
6.2 > Increased inequality and decline in employment quality
Mitigation strategy
1. Prioritize and substantially fund mandatory national re-skilling and upskilling initiatives, structured through public-private partnerships, to equip the workforce with the foundational digital literacy, soft skills, and specialized expertise (e.g., data analytics, AI system maintenance, AI ethics) required for roles less susceptible to automation, thereby maximizing human capital adaptability. 2. Implement a modernized, robust social safety net and wage stabilization mechanism, such as exploring universal basic income (UBI) pilots, or enacting tax reforms—like an automation-adjusted corporate tax or a tax on capital replacing labor—to ensure economic resilience, fund retraining efforts, and mitigate the exacerbation of socioeconomic inequality resulting from labor displacement. 3. Institute strong regulatory and ethical governance frameworks that mandate AI-human collaboration, requiring human-in-the-loop oversight for critical employment decisions and upholding labor rights, including advanced notice of technology-induced job disruption and the right to appeal automated workplace actions (e.g., in scheduling or performance evaluation), to prevent the use of AI for harmful monitoring or union-busting.