Foxconn replaces '60,000 factory workers with robots'

Re:Foxconn replaces '60,000 factory workers with robots' by chrisfosterelli on Wednesday May 25, 2016 @01:10PM (#11771343)

> we can't be expecting everyone to become an engineer or a scientist

We don't have to. There are many complicated jobs that aren't white collar but still require a highly skilled individual and are not currently achievable by robotics (millwrights for example).

The OP is referring to removing monotonous, simplistic, repetitive jobs.

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Re:Foxconn replaces '60,000 factory workers with robots' by knieveltech on Wednesday May 25, 2016 @01:32PM (#11771534)

True to a point but you're trying to handwave around some very simple math. We are not seeing new industries emerge that require large pools of labor which means the jobs being wiped out by automation are not being replenished.

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Re:Foxconn replaces '60,000 factory workers with robots' by chrisfosterelli on Wednesday May 25, 2016 @02:07PM (#11771814)

> We are not seeing new industries emerge that require large pools of labor which means the jobs being wiped out by automation are not being replenished.

Do you have a citation for that? I would be interested in seeing that. According to the Chinese government (which has been accused, in fairness, of fudging the numbers) their unemployment rate is highly stable.

Historically, as countries transition from developing to developed their workforce will shift from primarily non-skilled labour to primarily skilled labour [1]. China appears to be following this line naturally, if you trust their reported unemployment rates.

[1]: http://images.slideplayer.com/21/6263323/slides/slide_12.jpg

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Re:Foxconn replaces '60,000 factory workers with robots' by knieveltech on Wednesday May 25, 2016 @02:22PM (#11771914)

I do not have a citation. Are you aware of any combination of industries that have emerged in the last 30 years that have produced strong demand for unskilled or semi-skilled labor? Housing & construction hasn't blown up, manufacturing sector jobs have vanished. Mining is in sharp decline. Forestry has automated away most of it's workforce. Infrastructure is also in the toilet. So what am I missing?

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Re:Foxconn replaces '60,000 factory workers with robots' by douche on Wednesday May 25, 2016 @05:54PM (#11773442)

http://strikemag.org/bullshit-jobs/

Basically hiring people to dig and fill up white-collared holes.

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Re:Foxconn replaces '60,000 factory workers with robots' by namsral on Wednesday May 25, 2016 @05:07PM (#11773103)

It will take time, most likely a generation.

The generation preceding the current generation will be better educated and take-on the more skill demanding jobs.

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Re:Foxconn replaces '60,000 factory workers with robots' by knieveltech on Wednesday May 25, 2016 @08:16PM (#11774219)

What more skill demanding jobs, specifically? Where?

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Re:Foxconn replaces '60,000 factory workers with robots' by maxerickson on Wednesday May 25, 2016 @02:52PM (#11772153)

Those jobs can still get hit hard by new technologies that obviate a skill or assistive technology that allows a single worker to do more.

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