Human society is experiencing rapid technological development and revolution but at same time new technology is very much like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it tremendously enhance living standard and quality of life of human beings. On the other hand, the traditional labor market is also remarkably being challenged. The labor market in the last century was based around large employers and manufacturing industry but the situation is totally different now. For instance, many researchers predict that the world is moving toward a Gig economy due to globalization, digitization and automation. People usually high-skilled professionals are providing services through digital platforms. The Gig economy is a labor market usually characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance works. E. Tammy Kim has noticed this social phenomenon in her article, “the Gig Economy is Coming for Your Job” but she is equal likely worried about the awkward situation of low-skilled or less skilled labor. Basically, the technological shift has created a bifurcation in the labor market. Those without college degrees or proper training are far more likely to face disadvantaged labor market conditions. In the other article written by Peter Waldman, it can be observed that low-skilled labor does not only receive limited wages but also suffer from poor working condition. Therefore, to a very large extent, even though technological development is a blessing almost to everyone, it is still necessary to protect the welfare of less or low-skilled labor through skill-upgrading, improving workplace safety and other measures.
Less-skilled and low-skilled workers are almost the most vulnerable group in the job market as they are often not given sufficient education or information about the nature of their jobs. In Kim’s article, the author notices that “Mr. Martin and nearly 8,000 of his Marriott Colleagues went on strike” because of technological concerns(Kim, p3, para3). Kim points out that less- or low-skilled labor are not well informed about the technological changes. They may be easily replaced by automation, individual contractors, freelancers, etc, as they do not possess the equivalent skills to accomplish jobs. The worker’s union of Marriott Hotel believe that employers should effectively “negotiate the terms of such changes” and provide necessary training to protect the welfare of low-skilled workers (Kim, p3, para4). In the second article, Waldman observes that the Alabama is under a rapid economic growth through developing its automotive industry. It creates some “26,000 jobs” for local people. Trump and his supporters believe that it is part of the “manufacturing renaissance” of the country (Waldman, p4, para2). It might be true that the new workers can earn more money but it does not mean that they really know about the new technological changes. Traditional automakers such as AJin, Honda, etc, feel that they are saviors to the U.S workers because they are creating more job and boost the country’s economic growth. However, the U.S workers are not receiving sufficient education about the non-money factors such as work safety issues. If they are doing a work which is potentially harmful to their health, they might give up such “job opportunities”. As such, it is indisputable that less and low-skilled labor should at least be informed about the nature of their jobs. They have the rights to learn about new technological changes and know whether a job has potential danger or threat to their health and safety. It is also the employer’s responsibility to train and upgrade their skills. Otherwise, it is difficult for them to make a living or protect their own health in a harsh working condition. Most importantly, low-skilled workers should not be forced to accept low-skill job just because they have received sufficient education or skill-upgrading. It will lead to very severe social inequality. People who are more familiar with new technological trend will earn a higher pay whereas those who suffer from information divide are disqualified in the job market. They have to accept low-skill jobs which potentially threaten their welfare, health and safety.
Besides, low-skilled labor is often over-exploited in so-called “low-skill jobs”. Employers often disregard workers’ health and safety for the sake of economic profit. Even though less- or low-skilled workers may choose to do a low-skill job, it does mean that they do not care about their own welfare. In Kim’s article, workers seem to “understand one another” (Kim, p3, para7). For instance, Daida Ahmic, a room service worker, watched “a stream of Uber Eats and Grubhub delivery worker” walking into a lobby, she started to sympathize them even though they were robbing her job away(Kim, p3, para7). Kim wants to show that low-skilled workers were not just worried about how much they could earn from their job. In fact, they are also cautious about whether they are over-exploited by their employers. When looking to Waldman’s article, there are more proofs to show that economic growth or material gains cannot create a better life for a person. Reco Alleno could not support his family with his part-time job in McDonald so he decided to join the Matsu Automobile company. Even though he managed to join the company with a “$9-an-hour wage as a janitor”, lately he was severely injured and lost his forearms in the production operation (Waldman, p10, para4). In the end, he received financial compensation which help his family afford a house near Tennesse river but he still wants his arm back. It shows that material wealth is actually nothing to him. The job opportunity created by the development of automotive industry in the U.S does not benefit Alleno and many other local people’s life. In fact, the work safety and healthiness are more important to them. It also means that employers and respective government organizations should make sure that the basic welfare of both low-skilled and app-based workers should not be neglected. On one hand, local government should inspect the working conditions and safety of a company or an organization regularly. On the other hand, workers should also be educated and instructed about how to protect their own safety in production activities and operations. Most importantly, workers should be informed about the job contents and potential danger in their work. In the real world context, employers are more profit-driven. They care more about how to reduce labor cost in so-called “low-skill” jobs, albeit those low-skill jobs are equal likely generating huge profits for them. In the automotive industry as shown in Maldman’s article, less- or low-skilled labor are producing vehicles worth thousands of dollars but their safety and welfare are often neglected. It seems that employers have not paid sufficient attention and efforts in addressing the workplace safety issue. The reason behind is that less- and low-skilled workers can be easily replaced by others. If they are not satisfied with the working condition, employers can find alternative persons because there are always people who need money very urgently and meanwhile without adequate skills and education.
without proper training, it is impossible for low- or less- skilled labor to adapt to technological changes. Even if the workers are informed about the changes, it still does not mean that it is feasible for them to survive in such a rapidly changed world. In Kim’s article, low and less-skilled labor are gradually replaced by app-based workers and automation. In the Marriott Hotel workers’ strike case, over 8,000 workers demonstrate on the street because “automation, apps and algorithms” start to seize the job away from hotel workers(Kim, p3, para3) . However, as a matter of fact, automation, app-based professionals and computer algorithms can have much higher productivity than low-skilled labor. Even though the job opportunities of the latter are threatened, employers may still choose automation instead of manual labor in order to save production cost. In other words, without upgrading the skills of low-skilled workforce, it is much more risky for them to be exploited and earn a very low salary in low value-added work. Sometimes, it is even more tragic if low-skilled workers are not properly educated about how to maintain a satisfying quality of life through working. Sometimes, they aspire the high living standard but meanwhile are not aware of the fact that they do not have the desirable skills in the respective industries. In Waldman’s article, Elsea’s tragedy is such an example. Elsea was a 20-year-old girl. She worked “12-hour shifts” in order to pay for her rentals even though she was meanwhile studying in college (Waldman, p2, para4). Her mom warned that she could not handle the work-and-study pressure easily but she certainly believed more in the material gains. Lately she died as she was trapped in the manufacturing machine. She paid a price of her life for joining the automotive industry.
All in all, it is certainly true that the average living standard and quality of life have been significantly improved due to modern technologies. At the same time, it should also be noticed that the welfare of low- and less-skilled labor is often neglected. Kim feels that less skilled workforce is threatened by rapid technological development. Without proper skill-upgrading, less skilled or low-skilled workers are losing jobs to freelancers, independent contractors, app-based services, and possible robots in the future. Similarly, Waldman points out that without proper training and skill-upgrading, workers are facing potential work and safety problems. Employeres are greedy in exploiting the low-skilled workforce but meanwhile they also disregard employees’ safety and welfare. As such, people from low and less-skilled workforce, employers and government organizations should learn a very precious from the two articles. First, employers should not just blindly replace employees with automation, robots or hire app-based workers through the internet. It is largely because a company’s human resource is a form of intangible asset. Employers should take the responsibility to upgrade workers’ skills and help them adapt technological changes. Moreover, as technology is getting more and more complicated, employers and perhaps government bodies should also take the responsibility to educate employees about the potential danger in production activities so that employees themselves can learn about how to protect themselves. Last but not least, workers should also have a clear understanding about themselves. Especially for college students who have not yet been properly trained for a professional career, it is not advisable for them to participate production activities too early. The most important thing for them to do is to acquire knowledge and keep in pace with new technological development.
Reference
Kim, E., T (2020). The Gig Economy is Coming for Your Job. The New York Times.
Waldman, P (2017). Inside Alabama’s Auto Jobs Boom: Cheap Wages, Little Training, Crushed Limbs. Bloomberg