This text is translated with the assistance of UiO GPT.
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Rapid technological development is shaping society and creating new opportunities for education, occupational choices, and careers. A new study published in the Nordic Journal of Religion and Society shows that the familiar and tried-and-true may still be worth holding on to.
– Traditional occupations such as healthcare assistants and skilled trades have a lower risk of being subject to automation or robotisation, and those who work in such roles can therefore feel more secure in the face of technological change, says Vegard?Skirbekk.
He is a Professor?II affiliated with both the Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI). Together with Professor Morten?Blekesaune of the University of Agder, he conducted the study "Is Religiosity Related to the Risk of Technology Induced Job Loss?"
– In this study we have found that more religious people than non-religious people choose these safe occupations, he continues.
– The findings mainly concern Norwegian Christians and is based on population level evidence, adds Skirbekk.
Traditional jobs are not automated
The study combined data from two large data sets.
From the Norwegian health survey HUNT4 (Health Survey of Tr?ndelag 2017-2019) the researchers used an index of religiosity, based on variables such as how often one participates in religious ceremonies and congregational work, and whether one seeks help from God when needing strength and comfort.
The American O*NET database describes a wide range of occupations. From this the researchers used an index estimating the likelihood that a job will be automated. The Routine Task Intensity (RTI) index indicates that jobs with more routine type tasks – for example parts of office work, financial reporting and process-operator work – are more vulnerable to automation. Occupations that require care, manual skill and situational judgement – like many healthcare roles, skilled trades and technical jobs – are assessed as relatively less exposed to automation.
– When we linked the religiosity index from HUNT4 with the RTI index, we found that higher religiosity is associated with occupations that have lower RTI scores, and therefore a lower estimated automation risk, says Skirbekk.?
The finding that those with occupations with lower RTI scores have a lower risk of losing their job has also been documented in previous studies, including Norwegian studies.
From lower earnings to greater job security
International studies have found that religious people place less emphasis on career progression and material rewards, and they also tend to have lower levels of education and lower earnings than average.
In addition, religious individuals are generally more risk averse, which can lead them to prefer so called secure occupations, explains Skirbekk.
– Although earlier studies have shown that religious people tend to have lower earnings, they may also have greater job security in a future where an increasing number of occupations are at risk of being automated, he says.
– Those who have made more conservative choices regarding education and career may find themselves in a very favourable position as automation and robotisation accelerate.
Career choices without gender roles
Vegard?Skirbekk stresses that although the new study’s findings show that traditional occupational choices can provide greater job security, the researchers are not advocating a return to or maintenance of traditional gender roles.
– The point is that it can be worthwhile to consider occupations where the automation risk is lower. Women can certainly look to engineering and skilled trades, and men to healthcare professions. Choosing traditional jobs can be a strategic decision for the future, he concludes.