Short summary
Key points
The workforce didn't start shrinking overnight, it was a gradual process that spanned decades and will continue if not curtailed
Thousands of them have been laid off over the past two decades and the years that are coming will see more layoffs.
It's pretty much like what happened with the industrial revolution that so many people were displaced from their jobs. America saw some level of quick recovery because some workers were able to adapt, retrain and get hired again. But sadly, not every laid off worker was able to bounce back. Let's move away from workers and compare how jet age companies survive compared to earlier companies.
Research has shown that since the 1980s, when manufacturing industries embraced technology — which led to the displacement of many workers — there has been a steady decrease in the number of workers that companies in this industry hire. Matter of fact, it's no longer the manufacturing industry alone; all companies have now learned to minimize labor cost to make maximum profit.
What will happen in the future? Which jobs are safe? What industries should we run to for cover, or how else do we secure our future? All these and more will be answered in subsequent chapters.