Were we at PEAK JOBs during George W's term as president?

Were we at peak jobs during George W's term as president?

Since WWII when a companies productivity went up so did the jobs created. Until...

productivity continues to rise robustly, but employment suddenly wilts. By 2011, a significant gap appears between the two lines, showing economic growth with no parallel increase in job creation.

New technology is eliminating jobs, and eliminating them fast.

They believe that rapid technological change has been destroying jobs faster than it is creating them, contributing to the stagnation of median income and the growth of inequality in the United States

If this article is true, what are we to do with the 80% of people that are doing these jobs that are going to be in sourced to technology and "robots"? I can't see everyone repairing or programming or servicing these new systems. How are we going to protect this soon to be useless (in terms of employment) lot of people?

www.technologyreview.com... ng-jobs/

a reply to: seasonal

In 1995 I read a book that had just been published titled "The End of Work: The Decline of the Global Labor Force and the Dawn of the Post-Market Era " by Jeremy Rifkin. His was not the first nor the last to deal with this issue. His suggestions to minimize some of the pains of this transitory period pretty much went uninitiated for the simple reason that they are unacceptable to the more ardent capitalist controllers of the worlds economy.

I also remember that way back in the early 60s Twilight Zone did a poignant episode on this 'future' world. The boss firing worker after worker ignoring their pleas of mercy and where is this all headed would just hand them their papers claiming this is the future, this is business thinking he would be free of the layoffs. Until finally one of the machines handed him his papers.

So this, even back then was known to be some where on the horizon yet it seems that those who might have been in positions to change things then did little or nothing to alter our course.

a reply to: seasonal

It has something to do with how economics works, I believe. I vaguely remember when one of my college teachers told the class that the US is destined to become a Service Economy with minimum wage jobs. I don't remember the why's or how's...

a reply to: seasonal

In response to your question, the answer is no. I don't think we were at Peak jobs during Dubya's term as Pres. Maybe in the beginning but definitely not towards the end.

This is why I am getting into automated systems engineering, machining, and programming.

Most jobs in the next 10-20 years will have some form of automation. In that regard you have to go where the jobs are.

a reply to: projectvxn

Agreed, except there won't be as many jobs and people will become increasingly unable to fill higher skilled positions.

Good on you, but the problem society faces remains.

a reply to: lostbook

If everyone has a company hat on and wears an orange vest, making 8$ an hour, I can't see this transition being peaceful.

I shutter to think what will happen if there isn't some equity applied in reference to pay. It won't take much to lite the tinder that has been put in place.

I have worked with temp employees and they are sick, worried, poor, and pretty angry at the prospect of working for a company for 9$ an hour when that job used to pay 16$ and benefits 5 years ago. All the while company profits have never been better.

originally posted by: lostbook
a reply to: seasonal

In response to your question, the answer is no. I don't think we were at Peak jobs during Dubya's term as Pres. Maybe in the beginning but definitely not towards the end.

What?

a reply to: pl3bscheese

I was asked why I never dropped a packet for warrant officer and went off to flight school. As a crew chief I knew the systems of the M model Blackhawk pretty well. In its basic combat configuration the UH60M can take off, time manage waypoints and fly to them on its own, and land.

Running the machines is not where the money is. Fixing the machines is. As things require less and less human interaction to perform its work the more the labor pool will have to retool.

a reply to: projectvxn

You sidestepped my point a bit. Do you think the jobs this new technology brings about replaces the jobs it takes place of 1 for 1?

We're entering an age where low skill jobs are being obsoleted, and the entry level skilled jobs of the future will only be capable of being filled by high average to above average intellects and beyond.

Either automation ends or the corrupt corporate economic system does, and neither will.

Humanity's future is the bleakest it has been since the dark ages.

The answer, although many hate it, is a universal salary.

a reply to: projectvxn

Don't be so sure about that.
Ask yourself, if you were an aspiring CEO, would you rather have a fleet of robotic mechanics who run at maximum efficiency, make zero mistakes, require no pay, and only need to be maintained? Or would you rather hire a team of humans who make mistakes, get sick, require wages, and are inefficient?

In the short term, yes, you're absolutely right. However I think in the mid to long term, even jobs like that will be automated.

I don't know about you, but I'd opt for the automatons any day.
We're truly #ed. Dystopia Earth 2030!

originally posted by: projectvxn
This is why I am getting into automated systems engineering, machining, and programming.

Most jobs in the next 10-20 years will have some form of automation. In that regard you have to go where the jobs are.

That, or pick a very specialized trade. Craft beer brewing? Farming? Always medical field jobs will be needed. Paramedics and such. Gun smithing? Anything custom, like jewelry, land scaping, home improvements.

originally posted by: Ohanka

Humanity's future is the bleakest it has been since the dark ages.

And that is pretty much the only way to back track our progress. Enter another dark age. Take our tech and progress back a few centuries to give us humans another mountain to climb. That, or just fully embrace the road we're traveling and submit to the will of progress. So we have entire nations unemployed, gives them more time to become farmers, builders, an Amish way of life.

Are we so conditioned to think of a job as a necessity, that we fear collapsing back instead of springing forward? I don't understand this mindset. We choose our values and beliefs, and then get mucked up with absurd assumptions that don't follow reason.

There's no reason why living in a world where our technology provides the basic necessities for people should lead to any stepping backwards. That would be a choice we make through inaction, ignorance, and perhaps a penchant for self-destruction?

There's a lot that needs to be changed in this world, but it will take a change of mind before any of this can come about.

originally posted by: rollanotherone

originally posted by: projectvxn
This is why I am getting into automated systems engineering, machining, and programming.

Most jobs in the next 10-20 years will have some form of automation. In that regard you have to go where the jobs are.

That, or pick a very specialized trade. Craft beer brewing? Farming? Always medical field jobs will be needed. Paramedics and such. Gun smithing? Anything custom, like jewelry, land scaping, home improvements.

Absolutely ridiculous! Hardly anyone still uses guns in our future dystopia. Everyone knows blasters is where it's at! Just remember, choose blue photons if you're a good guy, red if you're a bad guy!

I'm not sure all of this can be blamed on tech - it could also be the global economy.

It would have been nice if it was looked at on a global level.

I also think the gap is due to the short-term focus most companies have today. They are not looking to reinvest for the long-term, they are looking to suck any value they can and then take the money and run.

considering george w bush only ACTUALLY created a max %0.25 employment growth and, obama currently stands at %1.98, no (figures).
bush was historically bad, i understand this place has become a right wing haven, but facts are facts.
bush massaged figures to show growth while in office, in the real world banks were collapsing on a global level while the recession kicked in, using his 'war on terror' was also a good smokescreen.

here in britain, labour and the coalition government made it easier for people to get sick pay, reducing numbers needing to sign on and how our unemployment figures were massaged.
currently the conservatives are cutting sick pay but, also are using bush junior's nonfarm example, explaining current levels.
any brit not working can't blame johnny foreigner for long however, thanks to the idiotic brexit vote, reap what you sow...

a reply to: pl3bscheese

Not initially. There is still going to be customer service. There will still be sales and management. There will still be jobs you can't automate.

We are a long way away from total technological unemployment.