Impacts On Deindustrialization: Work And Welfare State

downloadDownload
  • Words 623
  • Page 1
Download PDF

Was deindustrialization really for the better, good, or worst, in terms of unemployment, re-employment, and the working demands in a manufacturing labor force? When not only the United States, but other parts of the world quickly expanded as a result from the improvement of technology and immigration after the Civil War, many factors (i.g. society, economy, and politics) were particularly altered and shaped by industrialization. Industrialization, which started around the mid-1770s, transformed the world society and people’s’ lives by creating of new forms of transportation, such as the steamboat and railroad; thus, helped the nation expand and grow. This was important because, with the expansion of the railroad and steamboat, people were now able to travel and transport with abundant amounts of exports more immediately and efficiently than before. As the late 1960s to early 1970s arises, there was a steady downturn in employment for manufacturing, due to social conditions that made such manual labor impractical (ex: war or environmental disturbances). This was the beginning of deindustrialization. Deindustrialization, often regarded as a negative effect for the majority of the workers, was the transition from industrialization (manufacture) towards service established economies in not only the United States but other industrialized places as well. This is more explained in Vicki Smith and Ruth Milkman’ articles, “Enhancing employability: Human, cultural, and social capital in an era of turbulent unpredictability” and “Farewell to the Factory”. Opposed to the popular opinion, which many people believed that deindustrialization only had negative impacts on work and welfare, it’s actually an essential as the natural repercussion of the industrial development in an already advanced economy.

Because of deindustrialization, now countless of people worry about the importance of keeping up and improving their employability. With the world changing and shifts into the economies (caused by worldwide development), there have been technological advancements, growing competition, and flourishing refinements of customers and consumers. This means that businesses are to a greater extent seeking for certain kinds of people that have general skills to convey service/technical skills. According to Smith, “labor market in the United States is highly dynamic, turbulent, and unpredictable, a result of corporate restructuring, job creation and destruction, layoffs, and outsourcing. At the same time, substantial job creation continues as new growth sectors generate employment opportunities and technological innovations generate demand for new skills.” (281). From the blooming of jobs in the industrial era, the shift towards deindustrialization impacted all these manufacturing jobs to lessen rapidly, leading more people to become unemployed. As the rise of unemployment and working demands becoming significantly important, innumerable amounts of people have to sharpen certain types of skills in order to be applicable for a job. This is important because these substantial new jobs generated are not simple manufacturing jobs anymore (where it only limits to having one type of skill), but jobs that are now getting diverse and requires different kinds of skills to function. As the job market is fiercely competitive, employers seek employees that are not only flexible but also has the ability to undertake a vast variety of tasks in a different environment. In other words, indicating those who lost their job as deindustrialization occurs, only had the capacity and skills for manufacturing; therefore, they had to deviate from their previous skills and learn brand-new skills. For example, one type of job that was generated and sprung as the industrial era transitioned into deindustrialization may require future employers to have skills of better thinking, communication, social, and/or problem-solving, which manufacturing jobs never necessarily were required to have to these skills to work. Overall, because of deindustrialization large numbers of employed or unemployed people, struggle with work due to always having to keep sharpening up their skills to keep up with society.

Click to get a unique essay

Our writers can write you a new plagiarism-free essay on any topic

image

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy.