Reference no: EM133171573

Respond to the paragraph incorporating: compare, contrast, or additional information.

Robots and other machines are replacing workers on the manufacturing floor. On the one hand, this lets companies compete with cheap labor from other countries. On the other hand, automation eliminates jobs. Are you concerned that automation may increase unemployment or underemployment in the United States and worldwide? Why or why not?

Yes, replacing workers with robots will result in an increase in unemployment in the U.S. This is because the machines do not require skilled workers, and thus these manufacturers can hire less-skilled workers for cheaper to operate the machinery. As a result, they will need fewer workers, which will increase unemployment. In an article by Time, they said, "One study estimates that about 400,000 jobs were lost to automation in U.S. factories from 1990 to 2007."

The machinery's effect in the U.S. is less extreme than it will in third-world countries. The U.S. has more job opportunities, and those laid off have more options for employment than in third-world countries. An article by Futurism said, "low-skill jobs in developing countries are more vulnerable, as these jobs could rather easily be done by robots, robots which would replace human low-skill labor in these countries. This translates to some staggering numbers: Two-thirds of all jobs in developing countries might be lost to automation." In the U.S., there are more job opportunities for under-skilled people, unlike in developing countries, which will result in a lot of them being out of work with no other employment options.