Technology and Jobs - Essay Example

Technology and Jobs The article “Obama vs. ATMs: Why Technology Doesn’t Destroy Jobs” by Russell Roberts is a very timely and interesting essay (1). It discusses the two opposing views about the effect of technology on jobs. The first view mentioned is that because of advancements in technology, workers become more efficient; thus, fewer workers will be needed to accomplish a task. Simply put, technology results to job losses. On the other hand, some sectors believe that technological advancements create more jobs because there are now more resources and people available to create new products (Roberts , par 12).

In the article Roberts argues that Obama is mistaken to say that the loss of jobs is partly to be blamed on technology. With the era of globalization, outsourcing has been a necessary tool for several companies including American corporations. This is a major factor which contributed to the rise in unemployment in the United States. This, more than technology may be blamed for such economic woes. If a country stifles technological advancement because of the fear that it may result in job losses, then it just might come true.

But it is true to the extent that it losses jobs to other countries only because it has refused technological change. The trend now is to go global and a country cannot achieve it without the latest technologies. In the case of Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy, they were not able to cope with technological innovations, which resulted in a slow growth in the economy. This then resulted to huge debts, low investments and therefore few jobs were created. There was no confidence in the government.

Like Roberts, one agrees that technology does not impede the growth of jobs; rather, technology creates jobs and makes the economy more productive.Works CitedRoberts, Russell. "Obama vs. ATMs: Why technology doesnt destroy jobs." The Wall Street Journal (2011).