Rapidly developing technology is working hard to put us out of jobs

I refer to a letter by Cllr Noel Collins on the ills of unemployment (Letters, September 1). Cllr Collins is correct, but his aspiration for job creation is sadly out of date. The present is personified by the genius of technology, and one of the by-products of such genius is the elimination of work.

Production of goods and services no longer depends on human input (labour); at least not to the extent that it did. There is not enough work to provide sufficient employment to sustain societies, unless there is a drastic rethink of how we regard and generate jobs.

Throughout history, jobs were generated from the work that produced everything we needed.

In the 21st century, automation produces everything better, more economically, and in far greater quantity than all the human labour in the world ever could. Civilization no longer needs much human labour, but it desperately needs employment, so the enormous wealth automation creates can be shared in a dignified and secure way.

We have to generate more jobs from a lot less work; shorter hours, longer holidays and earlier retirement, without loss of income or entitlement. The distribution of wealth, and not its creation, should be the primary purpose of employment.

On January 18, the Economist, a far from left-wing magazine, issued a warning of a “tsunami of unemployment overtaking the world that no Government prepares for”. At the beginning of May, Intel announced a €3.6bn investment, without promise of one, additional long-term job. On June 22, an EU Labour Force Survey predicted a 40% to 60% loss of jobs in Europe due to technology.

EU governments, including our own, and the economic establishment, have a very effective way of dealing with such warnings and reports; they simply ignore them and keep them out of public debate.

Sadly, and to their eternal disgrace, media practitioners collude in keeping the implications of radical automation from the public; print and broadcast media refuse all attempts to have the effects of rampant automation included in employment debate.

Cllr Collins and, indeed, the general public, may be unable to directly create many jobs, but they could perform a very valuable service by insisting the politicians, economists and journalists/broadcasters face the reality of technology, automation and employment.

Otherwise, an increasing majority faces the misery, indignity and despair of a life on the dole.

Padraic Neary

Charlestown Road

Tubbercurry

Co Sligo