Automation and a changing economy: part I: the case for action

Automation is an important ingredient driving economic growth and progress. Whether or not the benefits of automation are broadly shared will be dependent on the choices we make as a society. Policies and institutions have played an important role in helping workers take advantage of the benefits of automation. However, without adequate support systems, automation can negatively impact many workers and communities. To respond to the challenge and opportunity of automation, employers will need to lead with a human-centric approach to automation; workers will need access to skills training, good jobs, and new economic opportunities; communities will need targeted strategies to respond to the disruptive impact of automation; and new data systems are needed to help understand the impact and prepare for the changes automation will bring. While there are many unanswered questions about what the future holds, this report attempts to explain how automation impacts the labor market and how to better prepare American workers to benefit from the changes to come.

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