YOUNG MAN: That seminar yesterday on automation and the future of work was really good wasn’t it? Looking at the first industrial revolution in Britain in the 19th century and seeing how people reacted to massive change was a real eye-opener. YOUNG WOMAN: Yes. It was interesting to hear how people felt about automation then and what challenges they faced. I didn’t know that first started with workers in the textile industry. YOUNG MAN: With those protesting workers called the Luddites destroying their knitting machines because they were so worried about losing their jobs. YOUNG WOMAN: Yes, and ultimately, they didn’t achieve anything.【Q21/22】 And anyway, industrialisation created more jobs than it destroyed. YOUNG MAN: Yes, that’s true – but it probably didn’t seem a positive thing at the time. I can see why the Luddites felt so threatened.【Q21/22】 YOUNG WOMAN: I know. I’m sure I would have felt the same. The discussion about the future of work was really optimistic for a change. I like the idea that work won’t involve doing boring, repetitive tasks, as robots will do all that. Normally, you only hear negative stuff about the future. YOUNG MAN: Bit too optimistic, don’t you think? For example, I can’t see how people are about to have more leisure time, when all the evidence shows people are spending longer than ever at work.【Q23/24】 YOUNG WOMAN: No – that’s true. And what about lower unemployment? I’m not so sure about that.【Q23/24】 YOUNG MAN: Perhaps in the long term – but not in the foreseeable future. YOUNG WOMAN: Mmm. And I expect most people will be expected to work until they’re much older – as everyone’s living much longer. YOUNG MAN: That’s already happening.

YOUNG WOMAN:YOUNG MAN: in fact there are more of them than ever. They’re still really in demand and have become far more efficientYOUNG WOMAN:YOUNG MAN: YOUNG WOMAN:people’s earning power has gone up so they can afford to spend more on personal services like thatYOUNG MAN:YOUNG WOMAN:YOUNG MAN:Really boring compared to these days, when they’re given much more responsibility and higher statusYOUNG WOMAN:YOUNG MAN:I’d have assumed it would be more than 50%. Now it’s less than 0.2%YOUNG WOMAN:YOUNG MAN:But now of course this sector will see huge growthYOUNG WOMAN:YOUNG MAN: technology will certainly make most of the jobs they do now redundantYOUNG WOMAN: