[rob74]

In the past, this has meant that people who had manufacturing jobs (i.e. producing something tangible that they could conceivably be proud of doing right) were moved to service jobs like call center operators, delivery workers, Uber drivers, Amazon warehouse workers etc. etc. Not really a step up, I would say. And in the foreseeable future all these jobs (and also some better qualified ones) will be replaced by robots - probably the most dangerous and least fulfilling of them, like delivery workers, will be replaced last. Yay, progress!

[baron816]

Have you ever worked in a manufacturing job? Surveys have shown that people are much happier, on average, with their service jobs than they were in the past when manufacturing was more prevalent. That's because factory work involves doing dangerous, repetitive, mind numbing work in a loud, often overcrowded, odorous, and hot space. It's a meme that everyone wants to bring back manufacturing jobs, but no one actually wants to work in manufacturing. People want cozy office jobs.

[hello_moto]

"move up the value chain" assuming:

1. the next level opportunity exist

2. proper training (we all know that's pipe dream)

3. fits what these folks are looking for (for some, repetitive jobs == less stress than "creative" jobs).

but what about glut of workers == depress wage?