Jobs Lost to Automation

[Adam White]

Thanks. I'm working on refining my approach. Next up: ALL CAPS!!!!

I'd PM MMR first and have him give you a QUICK rundown on SELECTIVE caps usage first.

True. Amateur mistake on my part. I should probably just give up and move to Baltimore.

Hate to break it to you, but I wouldn't feel sorry for you if you did.

[Megabox]

When rotary dial phones came out, phone operators no longer needed to dial the number for you, it took away their jobs. Automatic elevators took the jobs of elevator operators, bridges took the jobs of ferrymen.

[Tacachale]

[remc86007]

So registered nurses are more likely to be replace by automation than stock clerks? Am I reading this right?

[Megabox]

So registered nurses are more likely to be replace by automation than stock clerks? Am I reading this right?

No. Registered nurses are not likely to be replaced by automation. You've read it wrong.

[jaxrox]

So, nurses and teachers will be in demand jobs for the future, as well as STEAM employment fields, and it's a good thing I know how to make pizza as i will be boycotting all pizza establishments using non-human workers as well

[TimmyB]

So, nurses and teachers will be in demand jobs for the future, as well as STEAM employment fields, and it's a good thing I know how to make pizza as i will be boycotting all pizza establishments using non-human workers as well

Being a retired educator, I am wondering just how long it will take before we see a seismic shift in that field.  I was always a futurist when it came to my profession, as I saw what happened with other professions, and I always tried to prepare my kids for that eventuality.  Someone above wisely used the telephone and elevator operators as examples of this; I also used these two specific examples with my own students. 

When you consider how much info is out there right now in just about every subject matter, and it is delivered in a very friendly go-at-your-own-pace style, it is mind-boggling and it will continue to grow exponentially.  It will hard for parents to let go of that model of education which we have used for over a century, but those that don't adapt will be left behind.

[marcuscnelson]

There's an interesting video out by Vox today on the future of jobs, and their relationship with automation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUmyygCMMGA

[TimmyB]

There's an interesting video out by Vox today on the future of jobs, and their relationship with automation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUmyygCMMGA

That was really good.  Thanks for sharing it.

[TimmyB]

Yes, I thought that was good too.
I am one that has made fun of the "oh no, all of the jobs will be gone" panic and loved the example of the older articles. But maybe it really is different this time.
Of course,  I have wondered if Companies need people to buy their products to exist, how can people buy products if there are no jobs? I guess if we are thinking Skynet, it doesn't really matter.

I also liked  the ending about thinking about what you can control. Amen.

What is coming? Utopia?  Mad Max? Jags are the new Pats?

I was a technology teacher for the last 28 years.  For over 20 of those, my students first-day assignment for me was to build the McDonald's of the future.  It had to be buildable today (even if it was cost-prohibitive) and it had to have NO employees, unless it broke or needed restocking.  The next day, we would get into this whole discussion of technology replacing jobs that used to be there in great quantities. 

As for what's next, I think you hit the nail on the head (except for the Jags part).  We saw what happened when companies thought it was a great idea to off-shore all their work in the beginning of this century.  Suddenly, people couldn't pay their mortgages, let alone buy products, and the whole country tanked.  Hopefully, they'll think things through a little better in the coming wave(s) of automation.