Wednesday, May 18, 2016

(Not Just A) U.S. problem: I work three part-time jobs

(5/19/2016) This is a common problem in the U.S. and in Taiwan (the country I came from). The low level of labor force is struggling to make their ends meet ( a news from CNN Money). "Part-time work has become a huge worry for experts who watch the U.S. economy. There are 6 million part-time workers who want full-time jobs. It's well above its pre-recession average of about 4 million workers."
      Definitely part of the problem is the greed of capitalists, but part of the problem is that the labor cannot catch up the change of business environments and technology. The speed of changes of technology and business environments is speeding up, like the phenomenon of global warming.
      The integration of computer, information technology, robots has replaced many jobs that are done by labors before. Decades ago, business needed many secretaries, typists, telephone operators, couriers (delivery documents in organizations, please watch the classic movie "Miracle on 34th Street"). Their jobs are way all gone. Now, even the jobs of white collar jobs, machine operators, skilled automobile workers, and delivery men (think about Amazon Drone), or maybe even professional photographer (watch this video) are at risk. The productivity growth from computer, IT and robots outpaces many labors of low ranks. People who have $$$ can invest on firms that provides solutions through computer, IT and robots and enjoy continuous good returns on investment (ROI); but labors who are ignorant of these changes are lagging further and further behind. This is a main cause of current income gap in many countries.
     Before the government can take any effective actions, what we (labors) can do is at least to update our skills and knowledges with technology. However, technology skills and knowledges is not enough. The integration of computer, IT and robots can do a much better, accurate, and faster job and our human brains. We have to be able to be independent thinkers, capable to make good judgements based on our skills and knowledges. At least, in a near future (say, 20 years???), the robots are still not capable to make judgement and think like human beings.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/17/news/economy/job-multiple-part-time/


Will automated selfie stick replace some professional photographer's jobs?

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