Have you ever found yourself yelling “representative” into your phone at an automated directory hoping to eventually speak with a human being? Well, most of us have felt this frustration at one time or another. There once was an industry comprised entirely of people receiving a paycheck and making a career out of operating manual switchboards and answering phones. Computerization of these services saved many businesses untold amounts of money, but at what cost? Has it improved the connection with their consumers? What damage does job elimination do to the overall economy?

When you look at the issue of this type of job elimination from a business owner perspective, lowering costs of operation is a no-brainer. If you pull back and look at the bigger picture—what happens to all the wage earners after they’re forced out of work? Many say that these workers will simply be absorbed into other industries. The hard truth is—that this isn’t as true as it used to be. Many ousted workers end up on government assistance for extended periods of time, looking for suitable work, learning a new skill set to keep up with the job market, settling for under employment, or simply give up all together.

Let’s take a look at a few other prevalent labor forces under threat of extinction…

I am sure that by now you have heard about fast food and mid-level restaurants turning to a more computerized approach to customer service with kiosks and table side terminals to reduce or eliminate staff.

We have heard reports introducing the public to driverless car technology that is to enter the marketplace, no longer a matter of if, but a matter of when. This technology will devastate Uber and taxi drivers, leaving them unable to compete. Because when it comes down to price, many consumers will let go of their apprehensions to hold onto their cash.

Recently on a trip, I stood fascinated in the Miami International Airport discussing the introduction of a pilotless Airbus with an airport employee. It is only in the prototype development stages, but unmanned aircraft systems are being taken seriously by commercial airliners around the globe.

There is a new dawning of artificial Intelligence, smart houses, as well as entirely automated manufacturing and distribution channels. Once just the fantasies of science fiction writers are now becoming a functioning reality. The giants of industry have coerced labor forces into producing machines that not only have the ability to make their jobs obsolete, but also to make other machines like themselves—intelligent self-producing, self-programming, self-healing machines.

We have for a long time dodged the collapse of our immensely flawed monetary systems, mostly because of hard working labor forces continuing to do what they’ve always done under increased pressure to produce more for minuscule paychecks. Keeping the masses exhausted and in debt seems to be the new American way. If many of these hardworking people are suddenly out of work, what happens then?

I wonder if the people in charge are so blinded by profit/ loss statements that they missed the fact that they are breaking the backbone of America’s economy. If more and more people are not receiving a decent paycheck, who will be left to purchase the goods and services they are constantly trying to shove down our throats?

I have ideas that would fix this issue, but many of you won’t like them.

Bhoopathi Rapolu just recently released a book titled The Race For Work: Escape Automation, Transform Your Career and Thrive in the Second Machine Age.

This is a timely read considering a burst of emerging technologies changing the face of business on a global scale—on the heels of a worldwide warning for all wage earners to adapt or die.

What other jobs are on the chopping block? Could it be yours?

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