Friday's Job Report

by bringohiohome, Mon Dec 06, 2004 at 08:48:12 AM EST

As we all know, Friday's jobs report was another disappointment ... only 112,000 in the month of November and major revisions to both October and September.  A number of blogs refered to the fact that this number didn't keep up with population growth and that got me thinking about the comment that "George W. Bush is on track to be the first President since Hoover not to create one net job" that we have all heard.

Well ... that's not really true if you factor in population growth (and how can we not?)




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Ultimately (none / 0)

Very few people will have to work. Technology will automate all jobs that do not require design or creative skills.

I would say that the last pieces in the puzzle will take another 20 years to fully be fleshed out. The cultural angle will take a few years too. So, lets say that in 30 years, 95% of the jobs that are currently being done by people will be done by computers or robots, unless some sentimental reason exists that will justify paying the premium cost of hiring a human worker.

What does this mean? What are the implications for humanity? I don't have an answer. I am not trying to promote any one particular political system (I like democracy and I dislike communism, as I see it as typically resulting in a system that is as exploitative as lasseiz-faire capitalism does)

BUT, we will need to figure out an new, socially relevant way to incentivize people to do positive things in society when we no longer need their time and labor.. Or we will have sheer hell as mass unemployment swallows the globe..

Businesses are not welfare programs. They have NO obligation to provide emplyment to people they do not need. That is not their function. Dealing with problems like the mass obsolescence of the unskilled and slightly older workers is part of society's function..

IMO, many jobs that 'go away' probably won't come back, ever...

by ultraworld on Mon Dec 06, 2004 at 11:15:52 AM EST


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