Disappearing Jobs

What he is seeing… what I have seen… is absolutely happening now.

Jobs are disappearing. I’ve written about this before. Some of that is because of our weak economy. Much of it is because it’s now cheaper, easier, faster to have many jobs performed by computers or with computer assistance.

The word is “productivity.” We are each more productive. It’s a blessing and a curse simultaneously. At 40 hours a week we’ll never again have enough jobs for our population!

In this morning’s Times Paul Krugman wrote about that very problem and then made it even scarier.

[T]he idea that modern technology eliminates only menial jobs, that well-educated workers are clear winners, may dominate popular discussion, but it’s actually decades out of date.

Professor Krugman is quite liberal. However, his observations transcend politics. What he is seeing… what I have seen… is absolutely happening now.

We’re in a hole and trying to get out with a shovel!