The benefits of technology surrounds people on a day to day basis. Everything that is used, played on, driven, worn and more has had a hands-off machine touch it in some way. Technology has created machines such as a robot placing a windshield on a car with a precision no human can attain, or an automated sewing machine stitching a pocket onto a pair of jeans.
With the introduction of these machines comes the reduction of jobs. Manufacturing tasks of many kinds had human involvement or intervention of some type. Now an automated machine or a robot does the job for a human. These jobs disappear in favor of the reduction in overhead cost. The purchase price of these highly automated machines rapidly pay for themselves. No more having to pay an hourly wage and benefits to a body. Instead, one or two technicians monitor the machines.
There are not many options for those who have seen their jobs taken over by equipment. Sometimes they are fortunate enough to be absorbed elsewhere in the company, others can take a retirement package, others are bought out and cut loose. Finding a new job is not an easy task for those who have been let go.
A small but significant upside does exist for using machinery in place of bodies. Many times the tasks were dangerous, and could threaten loss of life for those who lost focus for even a second. Not everyone is sad to see a machine take over the job. However, it remains to be seen how large of an effect technology will have on jobs in the manufacturing sector.
