A future with no jobs -the most important social issue of our times?

wasteland

I think the most important scientific issues of our times are climate change, energy sufficiency, and environmental pollution, but I believe that these will be solved by technology within my lifetime.

Recently, I have been reading a lot about a problem that will be caused by technological advances.

I read two books: Race Against the Machine ($3.99 on Kindle) and The Lights in the Tunnel ($3.95 on Kindle). They are both incredibly thought-provoking, and tell the same story: we are approaching a future without jobs.

Technological advances are resulting in more and more jobs being automated. Looking around me here in Japan I have seen petrol stations (self-service), restaurants (order from a touch panel) and supermarkets (self-checkout) directly replace workers with machines.

Amazon has replaced countless shops, and is in the process of automating their warehouses.

The latest thing in education is Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs), allowing one teacher to deliver content to tens of thousands of students.

Foxconn, the company that assembles iPhones in China, is currently replacing it’s workers with robots.

Google’s driverless cars will eliminate taxi drivers, delivery drivers, and eventually driving schools, traffic police, and even street signs.

Increasingly sophisticated computer hardware and software will replace legal researchers, translators, middle managers, medical technicians, surgeons, and other knowledge workers.

So, as technology continues to improve at exponential rates, and human workers for jobs at both the blue- and white-collar levels continue to become surplus to requirements, what are people going to do? Are we going to have societies where 60%+ of the population are on welfare?

It’s terrifying.

I think I’m probably going to be okay, as I work in a public university in Japan (possibly one of the last sectors to face automation). Even so, I would be surprised if my job still existed in 15 years time.

One possible positive to come out of this is that Japan’s extreme demographics may turn out to be a blessing. When there is no need for a workforce, and unemployed people are a drag on society, a falling population could become an advantage.

Am I overreacting? This seems like the issue of our times, as it is going to result in huge changes to our social and economic systems, but it doesn’t seem to be part of public discourse.

I look forward to your comments πŸ™‚

 

Priorities

realization

As I was cycling to work today, I realised that my priorities are not the things I am spending time on.

I need to make some changes.

26 Apr 2013, 7:37pm
career reviews
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Book Review: So Good They Can’t Ignore You -Cal Newport


I just finished reading So Good They Can’t Ignore You, by Cal Newport. He also writes the extremely interesting Study Hacks blog. I really recommend both of these to anyone who is thinking about how to improve themselves or take their work to a new level.

In the book Cal trashes the ‘follow your passion’ school of career advice, introduces the idea of career capital, and offers examples of how to obtain control, find a mission, and enjoy your work. It’s extremely readable -I finished the book in just under 24 hours, even with breaks to sleep, take notes, attend an international conference in Osaka, and hobble around trying to find lunch πŸ™‚

This joins Millionaire TeacherΒ on my short list of books to re-read regularly in order to get back on track. Even if you’re not in the market for books at the moment, definitely check out his blog and let me know what you think in the comments below.

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