A recent study conducted by researchers at WU Vienna University of Economics and Business has shed light how automation affects mental health - The results show clear negative effects.

The manufacturing industry has witnessed a remarkable surge in automation. In 1990, there were approximately 400,000 industrial robots worldwide. Fast forward to 2020, and that number had skyrocketed to three million. While the loss of jobs in these industries has garnered attention, the effects of automation on the mental health of those who continue to work in these sectors have been largely overlooked.

Ana Lucia Abeliansky and Klaus Prettner from WU Vienna’s Department of Economics, along with Matthias Beulmann from the University of Göttingen, have addressed this aspect in a new study. “We’ve discovered that the use of industrial robots is associated with a decline in the mental well-being of workers,” says Ana Lucia Abeliansky, summing up the findings. “The primary reasons for this appear to be that workers worry about job security and no longer feel they’re making as meaningful a contribution in the workplace than before.”

The exemplary case of Germany

In their work, the researchers focused on the situation in Germany. “On the one hand, Germany ranked among the countries with the highest number of industrial robots worldwide in 2020, and on the other hand, we had access to comprehensive data there,” explains Ana Lucia Abeliansky from WU. Since 2002, Germany has been conducting the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), a comprehensive survey of private households. Leveraging this valuable resource, the researchers were able to examine the mental health trends among employees across 14 different industrial sectors. They compared this data with the level of robot utilization in each respective sector.

The study revealed a clear correlation between the increased use of industrial robots and a decline in mental well-being. “However, this is not a direct effect stemming from technophobia or a general aversion to technology,” points out Klaus Prettner from WU, co-author of the study. Instead, the researchers identified two significant indirect effects through their analysis.

Fears of job loss and a lacking sense of achievement

Firstly, industrial automation intensifies the fear of job loss. This fear is particularly pronounced among individuals over the age of 60 and employees that perform simple and routine tasks. Secondly, the study highlights the impact of reduced perceived achievement in the workplace as a factor that affects mental health. This result was surprising, because automation might potentially enhance workers’ perception of individual achievement by relieving them of monotonous and repetitive tasks. However, the negative effects were found to outweigh the potential benefits. According to the researchers, this is likely due to the diminishing connection between one’s own work and the final product, resulting in a decreased sense of purpose.

A societal problem?

These findings underscore the fact that automation can have adverse effects on workers that extend beyond job loss. Co-author Klaus Prettner emphasizes that this is insight is very significant not only for the business world but also for society as a whole. “Mental health strongly influences individual productivity, as well as overall well-being and social life. Therefore, it’s crucial to further explore this relationship,” he points out.

Further research could explore how the data from Germany compares with other countries. “It would also be very interesting and timely to investigate the extent to which other forms of automation, such as the use of artificial intelligence, impact mental health,” says Klaus Prettner.

Detailed study results and further information

Abeliansky, A. L., Beulmann, M., & Prettner, K. (2024). Are they coming for us? Industrial robots and the mental health of workers. Research Policy, 53(3), article 104956.

Click here to read the study