Fears over the changing role of technology in work have always proved to be unfounded. The creation of industry, factories, and the production line was thought to lead to mass unemployment, but ultimately it led to a whole new society with a lot more work to be done. Technology has never permanently ended work itself, merely transformed and displaced it from one sector to another. The advent of automation is likely to be extremely similar - and, like the replacement of horses as transport with motor vehicles as transport, it could lead to many, many more jobs.
The replacement of horses with motor vehicles did end a type of work - but only for horses. That's exactly what automation will do, but this time it's humans being replaced.
Technology doesn't necessarily lead to the long-term displacement of labour, but instead usually leads eventually to the creation of new forms of work.
Automation is unlike all other technological transformations, and will in fact replace human labour by transforming society.