Our
economy is based on services that we can provide for each other. This is where
a majority of our jobs are centralized. As advancements in technology allow for
greater capabilities, we want our technology to operate faster. Processes
become more automated, as they have in agriculture and manufacturing. For
example, Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin allowed for one person to deseed cotton
plants much more efficiently than twenty people could. When we use technology
to automate our processes, we are able to conduct business quickly and more
efficiently. However, our desire to live in a highly automated world means that
it could come at a cost to low-skill, high-turnover jobs that employ a large
segment of our population.
The
last time you went to the movie theater, you probably noticed that there were
two lines: one line was for the traditional kiosk, and another (faster moving
line) was at the self-service kiosk. During our childhoods, self-service kiosks
were nowhere to be seen; now we see them everywhere, from the grocery store to
the movie theater. We have vending machines that sell everything from
sunglasses to large electronics like iPads or even cell phones. We could even
consider gas stations as self-service kiosks. Anytime we conduct a transaction
without any face-to-face interaction, a job is being lost. Most of these jobs,
like movie theater attendants, clerks and tellers, are reserved for a special
segment of the population. Some of these employees are young teenagers, just
starting out on their careers. Other employees need to work a second job to
support their families. Low-skill jobs often employ individuals who were unable
to finish their education. If we stop offering these jobs, what will happen to
the individuals who rely on low-skill employment? What do we do the with
surplus labor?
On the
retailer perspective, automated kiosks can do everything without complaint. They
can sell almost any product, especially large ticket-items. A vast majority of
items can be sold through a vending machine, like hot coffee or cold
sandwiches. These kiosks are the perfect employees; they do not demand
paychecks, call in sick, give incorrect change, operate endlessly and give
instant information about sales or inventory. Why pay wages to a real employee
who will never be as efficient as a robot who does not need to be paid? Keeping
the checkout process simple helps keep costs low. Also, large ticket items can
be sold 24 hours at airport or mall locations, increasing revenue.
As
students, we cannot anticipate working a dispensable job. Low-skill jobs do not
require much thinking and are high-turnover because the environment of the job
is not conducive to promotion. Most of these positions can be seen as
mindlessly repetitive, counting out change or bagging groceries for an eight
hour shift. We can set ourselves apart by securing advanced degrees or working
in fields that require information production.
What do you guys
think?
I like this post a lot. To your question of what will become of low skill employees its clear that they will lose their jobs to machines but whats more it is clear that a new set of skills is going to be required of individuals in the workforce and importantly the global workforce. Of these skills an understanding of technology and its application will be the bare minimum requirement, I see this as a huge opportunity as many people will have to be trained to be better versed with the skill sets required by the global workforce. Already we see companies siting that many undergraduate students lack the skill-sets they are looking for, this means there is a gap that needs to be filled and money to be made in preparing people to be better skilled through online classes, excel, computer training programs and developing a global mindset the list is endless and it will continue growing with the more technological advancements that occur!
ReplyDeleteInteresting points being made. Yes, self-service kiosks do not require an attendant working. However, jobs are created by self-service kiosks in the need to repair, replace, install, and maintain them. Some would argue that these jobs are even better paid than the jobs they replaced. But I agree with the overall point of the article that we need to focus on high skill jobs in order to avoid being replaced by machines, especially in the coming future.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about this. This is a reason why it is key to always strive for more and furthering yourself through education. Minor minuscule simple jobs will become extinct through technological advancements such as machinery and robots. Why would they pay you to do something hourly, daily, for the whole year instead of paying a lesser 1 time fee for a machine..?
ReplyDelete