How Automation Has Affected Our Lives Today

How Automation Has Affected Our Lives TodayBy: Chris Sharanewych

Technological advances often appeared to take away jobs, yes, but in the long run they lead to an increase and diversification of jobs.

“In 1900, 40% of all US employment was on farms.

Today, it is less than 2%.”

“And yet, the fraction of US adults employed in the labor market is higher now in 2016 than it was 125 years ago, in 1890, and it's risen in just about every decade in the intervening 125 years.”

SoWhat happened to all the jobs?

We certainly are not eating less…

we have the ability to be more creativeand innovativethan ever before!

Because of automation…

Many of the industries we work in today were tiny or non-existent in 1900.

And most of the products we spend our money on today was unattainably expensive, or not even invented yet...

We have more time and wealth in our disposal than ever

“ The average worker in 2015 wanting to attain the average living standard in 1915 could do so by working just 17 weeks a year”

In 2012, 75% of parents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their work-life balance.

We spend our time differently now…

Total Internet All adults 18+: 27 hours 49 minutes

TVAll adults 18+: 29 hours 18 minutes

TIME SPENT, BY MEDIUM (per week per capita)

“When you think that 100 years ago people were lucky to read the equivalent of 50 books in a lifetime but now most children have watched a couple of hundred movies.”

“All you can watch, anytime, anywhere”

Automation will affect all aspects of our life…

Autonomous Vehicles • The trend is already being paved

• “17-year-olds with drivers’ licenses down to 45% in 2010 from more than two-thirds in 1978”

And jobs become more important too

Rethink Robotics states “there will always be a need for humans in manufacturing.”

International Federation of Robotics said in a study last month that “paid employment has increasedin countries that are the biggest users of industrial robots.”

So, the question is-How do we prepare for the future?

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Canada, G. O. (2016, April 14). Satisfaction with work-life balance: Fact sheet, 2012. Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160414/dq160414c-eng.htm

Autor, D. (n.d.). Transcript of "Will automation take away all our jobs?". Retrieved February 28, 2017, from https://www.ted.com/talks/david_autor_why_are_there_still_so_many_jobs/transcript?language=en#t-831840