Patrols, Pizzas, And Paparazzi

How Drones Are Changing the Workforce.

- Anthony Elio and Cyndy Hernandez-Martinez

There seems to be a common opinion that the dawn of drones means that many jobs are in jeopardy. Fearing a dystopian, jobless future, we have gained a bit of cynicism when it comes to our future-flying-robot-coworkers.

However, is this warranted?

Drones have already shaken up the job market. In fact, according to Business Insider, drones could someday replace $127 billion worth of labor in the United States. Most of this work is in agriculture, transportation, and infrastructure. While this does seem like quite a lot of work to be replaced by automation, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all those employees will simply be left out of a job. With all these drones in the workplace, there will be a need for management, repair, and, of course, manufacturing. A study by the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International claims that more than 100,000 drone-related jobs will be created by the year 2025.

In addition to creating jobs, drones will replace many undesirable and dangerous jobs previously done by humans. Take for example forestry, in which human workers need to take on the physically exhausting task of lifting tree bags and planting saplings. This is not only a demanding occupation but a dangerous one, with a fatality rate over 20 times higher than the U.S. average. By utilizing drones, however, we could not only get rid of a challenging and unwanted job, but also potentially save lives.

There’s no doubt that drones will change the job market. Let’s take a look at some of the largest industries that will be affected by the integration of drones in the workplace.