Will computers lead to large scale unemployment?

Hi lexus, Thanks for your detailed response. I really appreciate yr views. Its like u ask a question and u get just the right answer u were looking for. Its that kind of feeling. I also do feel that people should upgrade themselves to the changing world. But at times when i open the job vacancy sections in a news paper and some one is looking for a person which is not related to computer in any way, but still wants basic computer knowledge baffles me. I mean i give u my example. Iam from construction field and iam an computer illetarate. I have no shame in admitting it. Its like u can play soccer well but to be a soccer player u have to learn some thing like hockey .. atleast the basics of hockey. I dont really c me doing that. Anyways .. ty for the wonderful answer. Cheers, Tutul

Hi there Tutul, thanks for appreciating my response. You say that you are computer illiterate, yet you are able to post here and use myLot so successfully. That's wonderful, and I won't exactly regard you illiterate in computers because to do what you are doing, you will need to know some PC basics, be able to use a computer, keyboard and mouse, have some knowledge about the internet, about social networking, know how to sign up for a site like myLot, login and navigate around to use the site...see, there's so much you actually know already. It doesn't surprise me that employers looking for people to work for them require applicants to have basic computer skills. My guess is that such work is administrative in nature, or that it requires the person to come into contact with computers ~ capture data, write documents, do transactions, print reports, etc. Many jobs nowadays are such that people have to deal with some form of computers or automated systems, so a basic knowledge of computers at least is quite essential. Most employers wouldn't like to take someone in, and have to train the chap in basic computer skills. They would rather someone already knows such knowledge or better still have experience with office systems like MS Office, so that they can start on the job quickly after they are briefed about the work they have to do. With regards to unemployment and redundancy, it is not only computerization that renders people unsuitable for jobs unless they get retrained. Even in times like now where there is recession, companies cut back on staff or scale down operations. The people who get retrenched may find themselves out of job for long periods if they cannot get back the same kinds of jobs they used to do. It gets worse if these people are in their 40s or 50s, because their skills the have acquired may be related to older kinds of jobs. Once they get retrenched, other employers may not want to take them because the current available jobs require skills that these retrenched people don't have. So even in such times as recession, retraining may be needed to ensure people who lose their jobs get re-employed.

Hi lexus, I have so many talented friends from IT industies who can do some amazing things in Computers. Right from web designing, to new programs, they say some words which i dont really understand,lol. So in some way i feel that Iam not that advanced in computers but yea thats not my field either. Well my job has nothing to do with computers. Iam good with MS office but i hardly use it. I mean my job is all abt man management and looking after the progress at site. And iam sure there are plenty of other such jobs where the use of computers is minimum. We have to look at other talents also. We dont expect a computer engineeer to know mechanical units or civil designs. So y we cant be fair with other proffessionals. Its like a never ending debate really. Cheers, Tutul

Hi daffodil, I have so many friends from IT related industries and they are so insecured these days. Its like everytime they go to office and they feel that they r going to lose their job. I wonder if this IT industry falls down, what these people are going to do with their computer degrees? And every year we are producing so many IT proffessionals. Dont u think we need to look at other areas as well apart from computers. I know every field is struggling in some way. But car industries and IT has been affected very badly. Thanks for sharing your views and have a good nap. C u in the morning fresh and ready for the challenges ahead Cheers, Tutul

Hi daffodil, Yea i believe media is something which is going to grow a lot in the coming years. I have suggested my lil cousin to do her degree in Media management. Other than that pharmacy, textile industries can grow in a big way. As iam from construction ( Industrial ) i belive it has a very bright future as well. But what i have noticed is every field is related to each other in some way or the other. Recession has it own effect on Industial construction but its not that bad like in Housing sectors. Well Indian youth is depended a lot on IT sector and i really wish that this recent downfall ends soon. Cheers, Tutul

Thanks tutul, I'm feeling better now. You are right tutul. Other areas should be explored preferably having better future promise. So you are in construction. What exactly is your specialization. Even the real estate has been hit by recession.

Hi alok, Yes ur absolutely right. Due to recession these type of topics are getting more and more common. No one is feeling secured and this insecurity is world wide. Pupulation is a major problem in India for a long long time and what is really sad to c that we are yet not ready to take strict measures likie China did. Ty for yr valuable inputs. Cheers, Tutul

Hi, Yea these recent major job cuts are due to the recession but who knows may be our dependecny towards computers is one of the factor too. Here in india IT field is in big trouble already and i dont know what to blame. Well thanks for yr valuable inputs. And wish good luck for yr daughter. Cheers, Tutul

Hi tipsy, I agree with u partially. I understand that we need computers in our daily work more than anything esle. But there are still some sectors where computers are of no use. Some things are still has to be done manually or with other skills. I feel bad when i c people from those areas labouring with computers to upgrade themselves which is not going to be any use to the person in the future. Cheers, Tutul