Computers are now taking over tasks performed by professional workers, raising fears of massive unemployment.

Some of that growth in computer-using occupations has come at the expense of other occupations

In one study, software correctly found 95 percent of the relevant documents, while humans identified only 51 percent.

On average, since 1980, occupations with above-average computer use have grown substantially faster (0.9 percent per year), as shown in this chart:

Technology that primarily is used within the workforce

Technology that is advanced and includes the use of computers

Technology that operates on its own without human assistance

Technology that is used mostly in factories in place of human workers

Computers are now taking over tasks performed by professional workers, raising fears of massive unemployment.

But not all of the news about computer automation is good.

It might seem a sure thing that automating a task would reduce employment in an occupation.

It turns out that workers will have greater employment opportunities if their occupation undergoes some degree of computer automation.