Giving Compass' Take:

• Marcus Casey at Brookings argues that most occupations are expected to change in response to advances in automation and artificial intelligence (AI), however, there are studies to suggest it can improve rather than eliminate jobs.  

• How can philanthropy help ease the transition to automation? How can philanthropy help to ensure these benefits come to fruition? 

• Read about the labor-displacing potential of automation.

How will technological change affect the quantity and quality of future jobs? It is difficult to know. The issue of whether there will be enough jobs in the future receives substantial attention, mainly because of the well-publicized experiences of manufacturing workers whose jobs have been displaced by the introduction of robotics. It also reflects a long-held societal anxiety that machines will replace us.

The consensus among most scholars, however, is that jobs are not going away. Hence, rather than quantity of jobs, our focus should be on improving the quality of those jobs generated in a future governed by technological change. That is, more effort should be directed toward making proper investments in training and education and adopting policies that will improve labor market institutions to ensure the jobs of the future pay well and provide employment security to workers. Attaining this goal will be key to maintaining and growing the middle class in the future.

Read the full article about automation making jobs better by Marcus Casey at Brookings.