UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) released a policy brief [PDF] about the impact of automation in developed and developing countries.
"The share of occupations that could experience significant automation is actually higher in developing countries than in more advanced ones, where many of these jobs have already disappeared, and this concerns about two thirds of all jobs"
[...] Much of the debate on the economic impacts of robots remains speculative, it says.
"Disruptive technologies always bring a mix of benefits and risks," the paper says, noting that by embracing the digital revolution, developing countries could use robots to open up new opportunities.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 21 2016, @04:21AM
Can't the other 8 offer blowjobs (or at least handies), net maintenance, or maybe smoking services to the other two?
The issue with automation is less unemployment, but disruption while transitioning. I fully expect weird new job opportunities to present themselves, but it to be utter chaos while sorting it all out.
Something like basic income may help, and people on the lower rungs will have to focus on something other than brute labor to sell.
But the idea that freeing people from tedious labor is a bad thing seems to sell people short. Hell, even office workers spend maybe 2 hours a day on something productive, and the rest of the time is goofing off, networking, or somesuch other soft skill.