And we are about to import another 30 million + of them.
The other thing is that it takes increasingly fewer people to make stuff. This is independent of offshoring as its is being caused by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation. A few years ago, we saw the state of AI with Watson beating human contestants on “Jeopardy”. And those were the elite contestants. That technology is being applied to the medical field and customer service. Cars are now able to drive themselves (see the Google Car). And AI will continue to get exponentially more capable in the coming decades. Many college graduates with “knowledge” jobs will find themselves out of a job. The rise of 3D printing will also eliminate a lot of manufacturing jobs. If you want a secure job, pick something that involves working with your brain or hands that is difficult to automate (e.g., plumber, electrician, hairdresser, etc). But there are only so many jobs in that category.
Another factor driving policy is that companies just want a population to BUY THEIR STUFF. And, at the end of the day, they couldn’t care less, if the $$ people spend comes from legitimate work or welfare. In the end, public assistance is a subsidy to retail (Walmart), consumer products (Proctor and Gamble), and healthcare companies, etc. If you look at things from that perspective, a lot of the madness starts to make more sense.
If you want to know what the future will be like, read a book called “Player Piano” by Kurt Vonnegut. It was written back in the 1950s, but it increasingly looks like Kurt got it right.
“If you want a secure job, pick something that involves working with your brain or hands that is difficult to automate (e.g., plumber, electrician, hairdresser, etc).”
What’s that? You say the trades are fashionable again?
(grin)
The problem is that we have an entire generation or two now that have absolutely no mechanical ability whatsoever and aren’t interested in it in the least. I’m continually amazed by it in our young people. Boys especially.
Problem is, you still need half a brain and dexterous hands. I've done plumbing and electrical work. Many youths can't handle it. You still must think creatively, and learn the code books.
Just got back from a vacation gambling (our wedding anniversary and we needed a break). At one Blackjack card table, the dealer said you can't replace us with machines. Well, another two tables we went to had new card dealers going through training. Twenty-something gals. They couldn't count, and repeatedly got confused counting the cards.
My few cards added up to 20. Hers added to 21. She let me keep my bet as a push. Another time, hers outnumbered mine and she paid me as a win. Now she wasn't going fast, she was slowly staring at the cards and almost counting out loud. This happened with three different gals, on numerous hands. The old dealers are sharp.
The young people weren't taught in school how to count! A lot of people on the dole can't do the jobs that are out there.