When robots take routine middle-class jobs, those workers drop out of the workforce

Cory Doctorow 8:47 am Wed Jan 4, 2017

In Disappearing Routine Jobs: Who, How, and Why? economists from USC, UBC and Manchester University document how the automation of "routine" jobs (welders, bank tellers, etc) that pay middle class wages has pushed those workers out of the job market entirely, or pushed them into low-paying, insecure employment.

The study links the phenomenon of unemployment with automation — an obvious-seeming connection — by establishing a causal relationship that goes beyond mere correlation: people stop working because robots take their jobs. Robots don't just co-occur with unemployment, they cause it.

The share of Americans working in routine jobs has fallen from 40.5% in 1979 to 31.2% in 2014, according to the paper. The federal government's official measure of Americans age 16 and over who are working or seeking work has fallen from a recent high of 67.3% in 2000 to 62.7% in November 2016.

"Routine jobs are disappearing and more and more prime-age Americans aren't working," said Mr. Siu. "These things are two sides of the same coin."

Disappearing Routine Jobs: Who, How, and Why? [Guido Matias Cortes, Nir Jaimovich and Henry E. Siu/NBER]

(via Marginal Revolution)

Dollar Tree to change its name to Dollars Tree. (Well, they should anyway.)

Dollar Tree should change its name to Dollars Tree. The company announced today that they're permanently raising the prices of most of their items from $1 to $1.25 and offering more $3 and $5 products. From CNN: Selling stuff strictly for $1 hampered Dollar Tree, the company said, and forced it stop selling some "customer… READ THE REST
Salesforce will pay its workers to leave Texas

Salesforce, the cloud software company based in California, has offered to pay its workers in Texas to leave the state following its 6-week abortion ban. "These are incredibly personal issues that directly impact many of us — especially women," Salesforce told employees in the message, which CNBC obtained. The company did not take a stance… READ THE REST
CVS will raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour

CVS upping its base pay to $15 an hour is a milestone because it employs 300,000 people and puts pressure on other small-store retailers (such as Walgreens-Boots) to follow suit. A scan of the top 10 retailers suggests that among big-box employers, only Home Depot and Lowes have failed to promise at least $15 an… READ THE REST
Save 20% this Cyber Week on a holiday-themed Advent calendar full of goodies

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. The holiday season is upon us, which means it's that time of year to indulge in the things that make us happy while we're surrounded by loved ones. Of course, indulging… READ THE REST
Boost your productivity with 40% in Cyber Week savings on over 200 Mac apps

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Back in school, mastering subjects like calculus and French was of utmost importance. But as you go about life, adulting your way through your complex personal issues and your chosen profession,… READ THE REST
This Cyber Week, make using your tablet easier than ever with 20% off this stylus pen

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. By now, we all know how useful iPads and digital tablets are. Their functionality and versatility make them a handy tool whether we're utilizing them for personal or professional use. Even… READ THE REST