For John, BLUF: What happens to jobs for the bottom half? Nothing to see here; just move along.
Where are all the jobs going? That is one of the key questions we face today and tomorrow. Lots of different folks have talked about this, including former Labor Secretary (and Harvard Professor) Robert Reich, in his 1992 book, "The Work of Nations: Preparing Ourselves for 21st Century Capitalism".
A summary of the situation is provided by Ronald Bailey, in Reason Magazine, "The Haves and the Have-Nots: What Happens to the Folks in the Lower Half of the Bell Curve?".
Hat tip to the Instapundit.
Regards — Cliff
Not mentioned in the article is the impact of greater numbers of college graduates. I would suggest that a good many of the jobs previously taken by folks at the lower end of the economic scale, are now held by folks with college degrees, who, themselves are squeezed out by the lack of demand for their higher level skills. This problem has been discussed in various ways over the past few decades with no apparent resolution. A typical question considered is: "Who many BA degrees can society absorb and utilize?" Universities have become exceptionally efficient at offering a horn of degree plenty in all sorts of venues with all sorts of fancy subject matter "expertise" titles. However, many if not most of these "degrees" are much more pretty paper than pathways to meaningful jobs. Moreover, many of the degrees offered are based on such flimsy educational foundations that they are well known for their laughability. Universities have been quick to jump on the tuition gravy train various government sponsored and funded programs offer. A large number of "on-line" "Universities" are the intellectual equivalent of the old GED, awarding substantial "credit" for "life experiences" and other "equivalency assessments." One particular "University" comes to mind, DeVry. Its been around forever, feeding lavishly off of mail order "education." And while one might argue that there is indeed exposure to good learning content, there is almost no academic rigor required to demonstrate proficiency. A DeVry graduate is equivalent in capability to one who just received a high school GED.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is THIS vast array of "college graduates" who have displaced those with no paper to show. The jobs are still there, but the certifications of those performing them have changed....on paper.