Half of Japan’s working population could be replaced by robots or artificial-intelligence programs within the next 10 to 20 years, Nomura Research Institute said in a report released Wednesday.

The institute studied about 600 occupations together with researchers from Oxford University. They used an algorithm to examine each profession and the level of creativity or systematic flow it required by the worker, and found that 49% of them could be handled by computerization.

According to the institute, professions that could be replaced by robots and artificial intelligence are mainly those that don't involve creativity or special knowledge, while those that can be focus on data analysis or systematic operations. The latter professions include train drivers, receptionists, oil refinery workers and security guards, the report said. Occupations that required creativity, cooperativeness and negotiation skills were likely to be handled by humans even with the development of technology. Such professions include fashion designers, bartenders, film directors, surgeons and songwriters, the report said. The percentage of professions in which humans could be replaced by robots and artificial intelligence was 47% in the U.S. and 35% in the U.K., according to the institute. The report said that whether they will actually be replaced will be determined by social factors, as well as labor supply and demand. Robots and artificial intelligence have expanded their repertoires in Japan in recent years. They have already debuted as a cab driver, department store receptionist, and even television personality. While some fret about the social impact of such technologies, others say they will actually help create new jobs for humans.

Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8