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Although the idea of robots replacing humans in the workplace seems like a dystopian vision of the distant future, it is something we could see sooner than we think as technology advances.

In Bristol a staggering number of jobs could be taken by robots in the next two decades.

Research by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) suggests more than 250,000 roles in Bristol alone roles could become automated in the next 20 years.

The analysis looked at different jobs people have to see how likely some of the tasks could be replaced through automation.

A job is classed as being at risk of automation if it is likely that tasks could be carried out more quickly and efficiently by either an algorithm written by a human, or a machine designed for one specific function.

The figures show that 270,000 jobs in Bristol are at risk of automation - roughly 39.5 per cent of all jobs in the city.

Some 12,000 jobs in Bristol fall into this category. They include roles that require more repetitive and simple tasks, such as working in a shop.

While the figures do not show which specific jobs in the city are most likely to be taken over by robots, across England the education sector has the greatest number of jobs at risk of automation.

(Image: Melinda Sue Gordon/Paramount Pictures via AP)

The report found that 2.3 million jobs in this field are susceptible to being taken over by a machine within the next 20 years.

There are 2.0 million jobs at risk in retail, and 1.7 million in the human health sector.

Specific jobs at particular risk include waiters and waitresses (72.8 per cent), shelf fillers (71.7 per cent), and bar staff (70.7 per cent).

Medical practitioners are at the lowest risk of job automation - at just 18.1 per cent.

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The ONS analysis shows that 70.2 per cent of the roles at high risk of automation are currently held by women.

People aged 20 to 24 years are the most likely to be at risk of having their job automated when compared with other age groups.