Quote:
Originally Posted by ProfCrash
Such is the nature of the global economy. We can piss and moan about how things used to be or we can do something about the problems that exist today. Many folks stuck in the Amazon Warehouse type jobs are going to have to choose to take the difficult route or they are going to be stuck in those jobs. It sucks but that is the new reality.
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Such is the nature of a technological economy.
Not even protectionism can counter the reality that things have changed all over.
Once upon a time it was possible to earn a solid income with two hands, a strong back, and the ability to follow instructions.
Those days are gone.
Nowadays, that job description can easily describe a Unimate Puma or two:
The key today is added value, knowing something useful requiring talent, skill, or at least education--preferably in short supply. (And in that order.)
A college education is one road, as long as you choose wisely (studying puppery might land you on an "Occupy" camp with big debt and no job just as surely as dropping out of high school).
Another road is learning a technical skill, whether it be plumbing or robot repair.
It usually helps if it involves something you enjoy doing but sometimes you just have to "suck it in" and bear down.
Most importantly, entry level work like Amazon Warehouse Picker *should* be temporary; nobody should be as devoid of ambition as to *want* to stay in such a job. Entry level these days isn't so much an entry to a specific company as it is an entry to the workforce, a chance you can actually show up on time and do your job without being a disruption.
Which, sadly, isn't a guarantee; a decade ago during the days of 3-5% unemployment in the US, when entry-level jobs were going a-begging, the Welfare Depts in most major cities set up training programs to help the chronically unemployed get into the workforce and discovered that the lower 3% weren't merely unemployed, but actually unemployable; for a variety of reasons they simply were incapable of acquiring even the minimum skills of showing up on time or following instructions or getting along with co-workers or supervisors.
Which is one reason Unimate Pumas are good sellers and why Amazon bought Kiva Systems. And why Siri-style tech is in devellopment at most major tech companies. Humans *shouldn't* be doing most of those low-end entry level jobs.
And soon they won't.
Welcome to the 21st Century.
(shrug)