“Youth Needed In Computer Age'

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30937, 18 December 1965, Page 22

“Youth Needed In Computer Age'

(Special Correspondent N.Z.PA.) LONDON, Dec. 17. Workers in the automated offices of the late 1970 s may find they are too old at 40, suggests a Ministry of Labour report.

Most of the 71.000 workers expected to be using computers by 1974 will face this problem The report says: “Special aptitudes which are to be found more in youth than in later life are needed, and if programming of computers continues to be a ‘Young man’s job,* some difficulties may develop as programmers reach middle age.”

The report, prepared by the ministry’s manpower research unit see* no prospect of widespread redundancy resulting from the introduction of computers ta offices during the next 10 years. The number of office computers will probably increase tenfold to *OOO by 1974 and will take over about 301000 office posts. But in the same period the natural increase of office work will create about 700.000 new jobs. The report says: “The effect of computers on office employment in the next 10 years will be to offer some relief to a growing shortage of office workers. For some firms the use of computers may be an essential means to survival.” About *OO computers were in office use at the start of 19*6, but only 13 cases of redundancy are reported. Two-thirds of the jobs taken over by computers were clerical—routine jobs rather than work of a “forward-look-ing and productive character ” About 20 per cent of the new computers went into public administration and nationalised industries. Another 30 per cent went into insurance, banking, finance houses. engineering and electrical goods industries.