Could We Turn Truck Drivers Into Data Scientists?

Probably not, but maybe there’s a small path here.

A lot of people seem to be worried about future employment. In the U.S., you could argue that’s one reason Trump just won the Presidency. Ultimately, the states that put him over the top were Upper Midwestern states where jobs are automated out (or go abroad), and people get nervous. In an advanced capitalism, a lot of success and self-worth (and ability to do the things you want) are tied to money, and if future employment is zip zero zilch, that terrifies people. Trump channeled the fear — “bad hombres, raping our women” — and he won an election that he probably never should have won on “conventional” metrics alone. That, plus the “high achiever myth.”

What does future employment look like, though? I mean, do any of us really know? Probably not. But I can trace out a little bouncing ball for you. Automation is a real thing. That’s happening. It might be 50 percent. It may be higher. Speaking of Trump, those Carrier jobs he saved? They’re all getting automated anyway. See that super-cool new Amazon grocery store people were sharing on social media? That’s a huge automation play. Trucking — one of the best ways for a less-educated man to make a good salary — is getting automated out too.