← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Disadvantage: job losses and lost skills

Automated systems can replace workers, causing unemployment, and fewer people keep practical skills. Retraining is needed. Example: a driverless train replacing drivers.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 6.1 Automated Systems — Module 40

Understanding Disadvantage: job losses and lost skills in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: Retraining teaches displaced workers new skills so they can take on different jobs, such as maintaining the automated system. This is the example from the topic: an automated system doing a job that was done by people, which causes job losses. Automated systems can replace workers. This is a disadvantage because it can cause unemployment. A driverless train replacing drivers is the key example of workers being replaced by machines. If machines do the work, fewer people practise the hands-on skills, so those skills can be lost. A key disadvantage of automation is job losses, so the statement that jobs are never affected is incorrect.

Common mistakes: Machines replace workers, so the number of drivers should go down. It should be drivers ← drivers - robots, not +. An IF statement needs THEN at the end of the condition line. It should be IF driverless = TRUE THEN.

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Learning
Duo
A factory installs robots to do the jobs that workers used to do. What is a likely disadvantage?
The factory will need more workers doing the same tasksSome workers may lose their jobs, causing unemployment
Matches
Automation never affects jobs because machines always create more work for the same staff
↓
Wrong because automated systems can replace workers, causing unemployment. Some roles are lost, and the remaining staff may need retraining.
Applying
Meanings
Term
job losses
Meaning
Automated systems can replace workers, causing unemployment, and fewer people keep practical skills. Retraining is needed. Example: a driverless train replacing drivers.
Practice
drivers ← 20
Testing
Gaps
IF driverless = TRUE
Check Answer
Spots
2robots ← 10
3drivers ← drivers + robots

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Quick Questions

1. A factory installs robots to do the jobs that workers used to do. What is a likely disadvantage?
A. The factory will need more workers doing the same tasks
B. Some workers may lose their jobs, causing unemployment ✓
Automated systems can replace workers. This is a disadvantage because it can cause unemployment.
2. A railway company introduces driverless trains. Which statement describes a disadvantage?
A. Train drivers may lose their jobs ✓
B. The trains can only run during the day
A driverless train replacing drivers is the key example of workers being replaced by machines.
3. Which is a disadvantage of automation for workers who keep their jobs in a company?
A. They may need retraining to do new roles ✓
B. They never need to learn anything new
When tasks are automated, staff often need retraining for new roles such as maintaining or monitoring the system.
4. Over time, a company relies on machines for most tasks. What can happen to its workforce's practical skills?
A. Fewer people keep the practical skills ✓
B. More people gain practical skills by doing nothing
If machines do the work, fewer people practise the hands-on skills, so those skills can be lost.
5. Which is the better exam answer for a disadvantage of automation?
A. Machines are expensive to buy
B. Machines can replace workers, so there is unemployment ✓
Cost is a different disadvantage. This question is about job losses and lost skills, so the answer must mention workers being replaced.

Match the Pairs

job losses → Automated systems can replace workers, so some people become unemployed
lost skills → Fewer people keep practical skills because machines now do the work
Workers displaced by automation need retraining to move into new roles → retraining needed
A driverless train replaces the drivers who used to operate the trains → driverless train replaces drivers
Automation never affects jobs because machines always create more work for the same staff → Wrong because automated systems can replace workers, causing unemployment. Some roles are lost, and the remaining staff may need retraining.
Machines do the work, so people will keep all of their practical skills → Wrong because when machines do the tasks, fewer people practise and keep practical skills, so skills are lost.

Key Term

job losses
Automated systems can replace workers, causing unemployment, and fewer people keep practical skills. Retraining is needed. Example: a driverless train replacing drivers.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF driverless = TRUE THEN jobsLost ← jobsLost + 1 ENDIF
Hint: Type the keyword that follows an IF condition and starts the action to run when it is true
2. jobsLost ← oldStaff - newStaff
Hint: Type the arithmetic operator that works out how many fewer workers are needed
3. IF jobsLost > 0 THEN OUTPUT "Retrain staff" ENDIF
Hint: Type the pseudocode keyword that displays a message to the user
4. IF practicalSkills < neededSkills THEN OUTPUT "Skills lost" ENDIF
Hint: Type the comparison operator that means less than
5. unemployment ← unemployment + 1
Hint: Type the arithmetic operator that increases the unemployment count when a worker loses a job

Spot the Error

Question 1
A drivers ← 50
B robots ← 10
C drivers ← drivers + robots
D OUTPUT drivers
Line C — Machines replace workers, so the number of drivers should go down. It should be drivers ← drivers - robots, not +.
Question 2
A IF driverless = TRUE
B drivers ← drivers - 1
C OUTPUT 'Driver job lost'
D ENDIF
Line A — An IF statement needs THEN at the end of the condition line. It should be IF driverless = TRUE THEN.
Question 3
A FOR i ← 1 TO 3
B OUTPUT 'Retrain worker
C NEXT i
Line B — The text to output is missing its closing quote mark. It should be OUTPUT 'Retrain worker'.
Question 4
A machine ← TRUE
B IF machine = FALSE THEN
C practising ← FALSE
D ENDIF
Line B — People stop practising a skill when a machine does the task. The condition should check machine = TRUE, so the skill loss follows from the machine doing the work.
Question 5
A PROCEDURE Retrain(name)
B OUTPUT 'Retrain ' name
C ENDPROCEDURE
Line B — Items in an OUTPUT statement must be separated by a comma. It should be OUTPUT 'Retrain ', name.

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