Question

In no less than 250-words, describe the ethical dilemmas that are present in technological unemployment by answering the following questions:

• Do we have a social responsibility to keep humans employed?
• Should the government regulate technology innovation and protect jobs?
• Is Universal Basic Income socially responsible, or does it encourage laziness and undermine capitalism?  

Answer 1

Truly, with the advent of technology and the innovations being continuously made, the lives of millions is changing. Though businesses are able to reap higher profits as compared to their earlier counterparts, the life of common man is changing. With technology, automation has crept in. This ensures minimum or rather no defect. Also, issues such as strikes, conflicts, health of employees , etc do not affect the processes. Thus ensuring a consistent output, despite any adverse conditions. However, the downside of this is, unemployment is rising. Companies need to recruit lesser staff and workers. Thus, benefiting from lower labor costs and issues. but increasing the social disparities based on economic imbalance. This means, the disparity between rich and poor is growing and causing huge problems to people world wide.

Today we see so many highly educated people, jobless ready to take up any job they get. We all see people not being able to afford even a small house in the neighborhood. There are several who work extended hours, damaging their health to retain their jobs. This scenario has to change. Employers must realize the necessity to balance between profits and social responsibility. This means, they must ensure that the use innovative strategies to improve quality and profitability of their organizations, will using automation wisely and ensuring job security to other fellow human beings. The companies in localities where labor is scarce, opt for automation. But, the companies in labor abundant areas must execute their social responsibility and recruit the required manpower. This will help ensure employment to several and inturn improve the economic conditions of the community.

The government can be a very deterministic facilitator of regulating technology usages and protecting jobs. It can form policies regarding the job protection initiatives. Also, dictate the number of employees to be recruited based on the the company size. Universal Basic Income is socially responsible in a way that it provides economic stability to the unemployed persons. Thus, ensuring the state takes necessary precaution to resolve the unemployment issues at the earliest, while providing safety to it's citizens. On the other hand, it is partly encouraging laziness among individuals who are content with the unemployment income and are not inspiring to grow themselves both socially and economically.

However, with the present trend analysis, there is an urgent need to improve upon the strategies to increase employment, ensure equal distribution of nation's wealth and national economic stability. This must be one of the top-most agenda of the governments of all countries, may it be developed or developing nations.