Autodesk CEO Carl Bass says that just as we have created new, higher-paying jobs in every other industrial transition, we will create a new set of industries and professions in this one. Look at the new types of jobs and multi-billion dollar businesses that the Internet and mobile industries created—these came out of nowhere and changed our lives, Bass says.This seems technically correct but misleading.
Suppose a 20th century automobile factory had 500 middle class workers. That might include 20 supervisors, 100 welders, 100 machine-lube-fillers, 80 typists, 100 lathe operators, 100 other assorted greasemonkeys.
The 21st century wipes out most of those jobs. The factory makes the same number of cars with five guys - an accountant, a computer programmer, a special robot wrangler, a nanotech specialist, and a human resources officer.
Yeah, great. The robotic age has invented two totally new professions, namely robot wrangler and nanotech nerd. Hooray for them, and I'm glad they have middle-class jobs.
But in fact, even though you have created two new professions, you've eliminated 99% of the middle class jobs.
Instagram had only 13 employees when it was bought out by the Borg. (Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.)
Instagram created a lot of value, but it did not employ huge masses of workers to do that.
The 21st century might manage to save GDP while destroying the workers.
