BY 2020 will the next administration be facing 70% unemployment???

[CK_John]

IMO, by 2020 70-80 million jobs will be lost due to automation. The transition will take about 30yrs to settle down.

Check out the following:

Reference:
Robot teacher conducts first class in Tokyo school.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/5311151/Robot-teacher-conducts-first-class-in-Tokyo-school.html

Autonomous-driving Volvo convoy takes road in Spain.
http://phys.org/news/2012-05-autonomous-driving-volvo-convoy-road-spain.html

In Sweden, a Cash-Free Future Nears.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/27/business/international/in-sweden-a-cash-free-future-nears.html

Uber, Google and others form self-driving car lobby to shape US policy.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/26/uber-google-lyft-ford-volvo-self-driving-car-lobby

[oberliner]

1. Note that none of those stories are about the US

We are actually lagging behind Europe and Asia as far as automation is concerned.

[Person 2713]

2. US education needs to prepare for jobs relating to automation. I don't see it happening

[Drunken Irishman]

3. lol so in 4 years, nearly all the country is going to lose their job?

[whatthehey]

4. No. Next question.

[Orsino]

5. Science fiction used to promise us a world where few people had to work...

...but we have so internalized capitalism's myths that we now regard that prospect in horror.

What we're really afraid of is not being able to feed and shelter ourselves. It may be that we just aren't sufficiently altruistic to agree on a Citizen's Wage.

[GulfCoast66]

9. I find value in my work

In my small way I contribute to society and thru that it becomes part of my identity. And I have a job no robot can replace.

Even if I became insanely wealthy I would continue working at something.

[Orsino]

11. Uh-huh.

But when there aren't enough jobs to go around, as there aren't today, what do we do about the terror of poverty? I think that's when we discuss the Citizen's Wage, the value not just of one's labor but of one's humanity.

An automated civilization that doesn't require labor from all need not be a catastrophe unless we obey the capitalists.

[GulfCoast66]

16. I certainly am in favor

Of using government to insure no one lives in poverty.

But I think it is not the case that jobs are going away or the idea that we will soon lack jobs for 70% of the population.

People are inventive and industrious by nature and will always find task to do.

[BobbyDrake]

13. I'd much rather pursue hobbies than work if given the option. A work-free society would free people

to pursue cultural achievements instead of monetary ones, and that would do more to contribute to society than any "job."

[GulfCoast66]

17. Well, I love DU

For all the different opinions.

My idea of a dystopian hell is a work free society. But having citizens work for poverty wages and replaced like widgets is another kind of hell.

I believe we can find a balance between the two.

[MineralMan]

6. No, it won't. Your doom and gloom scenario is way too far-fetched

and is based on technologies that will not actually be in place anywhere near that time.

However, technology is leading in that direction, but far more slowly that you imagine.

Robot teachers? Well, we're already relying on Internet resources for much of education already. But, before that, we used books. Teachers were still needed and will continue to be needed to direct students along their path.

Autonomous cars, etc. are still much farther away than you think. Safety issues will slow down adoption of them on a large scale, and the more there are on the road, the more we'll hear about safety concerns. Improvements in infrastructure, too, which we seem unwilling to make, will be required. No sign of those so far.

A cash-free economy? That's essentially here already. I rarely carry any cash today. My debit card substitutes for it in almost all situations. If I'm going somewhere that doesn't accept them, I stop at an ATM and get some cash. Self-checkout lanes are empty in most stores, too. People don't like them and they're harder to use than they should be. So, there are still people working at the check-out lanes.

Online shopping is a greater risk to retail jobs, really. Still, someone has to deliver those goods, as well.

Your last point is still about autonomous vehicles. They aren't coming nearly as soon as you think. In the meantime, people are working for Uber and other quasi-taxi services right now. It's sort of a lousy job that pays not so well, but people are still needed.

So, no, we're not going to have 70% unemployment by 2020. Not even close.

[CK_John]

8. Autonomous vehicles will be trucks convoys on interstate roads

that are already in use in Spain. The lead truck has a driver but radar and video controls 6 to 7 semi's. 6 out of 7 over the road drivers lost.

This is already in place. The interstates are ready and able to start tomorrow. I agree cars will take longer.

The cashless systems means no atm's. They are the target, trying to get rid of bank issued cards. Business is tired of paying a percentage on card sales.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. The forecast is for 6%

http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/unemployment-rate/forecast



We will see who is right.

[CK_John]

12. And Tradingeconomics is who?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. So you think the unemployment rate is going to be 70% in 2020.

[CK_John]

15. The OP is a question? But I think it will very high.

[liberal N proud]

7. Nothing but fear mongering

People may not be doing the jobs they do now, but if no one is working, the economy falls flat and that is not going to happen because of automation.

[Hortensis]

18. The answer is of course not. As MM says.