Automation and Skill

Abstract

In the decade of the fifties, automation appears to have contributed to an acceleration of the long-term growth of the generally higher skilled, white-collar, service-oriented activities. This trend shows up both in the over-all statistics of occupational distribution and in the detailed case studies of automation in particular establishments. One apparent effect of the rising level of skill and educational requirements ac companying automation has been a disproportionate concen tration of unemployment—especially long-term unemployment —on the unskilled and semiskilled workers. The outlook for the present decade is that the greatest growth will be in the number of jobs requiring high skill or high educational attain ment. While we do not have extensive data concerning the specific skills and talents which automation demands, present indications are that emphasis must be put on training and edu cation which make individuals as maneuverable, flexible, mo bile, and responsive to change as possible.