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Post-Labour Economics

Module 5 — Your Mindset

Lesson 17: Auditing Your Own Work

Last updated: 2026-10-09

Enough theory. Start with yourself. This lesson gives you a short, honest framework for looking at your own tasks and working out which are exposed, which are durable, and what to do about it.

Lesson 17: Auditing Your Own Work

Blackboard

Four questions to ask about your own work

12 min
Concept 1

Question one — which dimension?

Revisit the four dimensions from Lesson 3: physical force, fine manipulation, cognition, social-relational capability. Which dimension does each of your main tasks lean on? A task that leans heavily on cognition is more exposed in 2026 than a task that leans on fine manipulation or on relational capability. A task that requires all four is usually the most durable of all.

Concept 2

Question two — routine or not?

Now use Autor's old frame. Does the task follow a clear, explicit rule, or does it require judgment under uncertainty? Routine tasks are exposed first. Non-routine cognitive tasks are newly exposed thanks to large language models. Non-routine social-relational tasks are still the most resilient. Be honest: a task that feels creative may actually be mostly routine.

Concept 3

Question three — who bears the liability?

If this task goes wrong, who gets sued? Who loses their licence? If the answer is 'nobody in particular', the task is more exposed. If the answer is 'I do, because I signed off on it and I'm regulated', the task is partly protected by the accountability principle. This is also a rough proxy for how valuable the task is.

Concept 4

Question four — do you use the tools?

The honest last question. Are you using the automation tools that can do parts of your work, or is someone else using them to compete with you? The productivity gains from AI tools go disproportionately to the people who use them first and well. Being a skilled user of the tools that could replace you is the single most effective personal hedge available.

Pause and Think

Take one hour of your own typical working week. Answer the four questions below about it. What did you learn?

Flashcards

Key Terms

Click or press Enter to flip a card. Review these before the practice question.

Additional Resources
Practice Question

Which of the following is MOST likely to reduce your personal exposure to automation, according to this lesson?

Does not count for certificate
Choose one answer, use the hint if needed, then check your answer.
Use the hint before checking if you need a nudge.