140 years of data shows that technology has created more jobs … – Observer

Deloitte studied the British censuses since 1871 and concluded that the technology has helped to create more jobs than those who destroy, says The Guardian. The effects of technology on the labor market have been the subject of discussion with the World Economic Forum estimate that the fourth industrial revolution (digital) can destroy five million jobs over the next five years.

When Deloitte looked at the past, the conclusion was different: “the technology has been a major engine of job creation,” according to the authors Ian Stewart, Debrapratim from and Alex Cole. The 140-year study included data from the England and Wales census.

“The dominant trend is that the hiring of workers in agriculture and Manufacturing has been more than offset by the rapid growth business in the sectors of services, creative and technology, “the authors write, adding that the machines passed to ensure more repetitive and laborious tasks, but were not,” at no time in the past 50 years, close to eliminating the need for human labor . “

according to the National Institute of British statistics, between 1992 and 2014, the number of nursing staff in the UK increased by 909% – went from 29,743 to 300,201. At this time, the number of training aids has also increased 580%, the social workers increased 83% and household care providers 168%.

Also during these two decades, the number of weavers descended 79% to 57% fell typists and administrative desks dropped 50%. The study says that in areas such as medicine, education and professional services, technology increased productivity and employment at the same time.

“The easiest access to information and the fastest pace of communication revolutionized the most knowledge-based industries, “say the authors. In 1871, for example, there were 9,832 Accountants in England and Wales, in 140 years became 215,678.

The authors argue that technological progress has helped to lower essential goods prices, as food, but also of appliances or cars (which fell by half in the last 25 years) and this has led people to spend more money on leisure activities – which ended up creating new requirements and new jobs. The number of people that bars employ, for example, quadrupled between 1951 and 2011

To illustrate this aspect, turn to another example. The hair stylists. The authors believe that the increase in people’s incomes allowed to begin to spend more on personal services – like hairdressing. In 1871, there was a room for about 1,793 people in England and Wales, there is now one for every 287 people.

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