Robotic Nation Evidence

Here's another 6000 - that pushes us over the top to 53000.

"DALLAS - Kimberly-Clark Corp., the maker of Kleenex tissues and Huggies diapers, said Friday it plans to cut about 6,000 jobs and sell or close up to 20 manufacturing plants, while boosting spending on certain core product lines and emerging markets during the next three and a half years. ..."
link
 

That's not good, but is it horrible?

I'm looking at this, US Department of Labor Employment Situation reports.

That said, I'm not entirely sure of how to interpret them. "50,000 jobs" is 50 points on these charts, which measure in the thousands.

But I really don't know how to think about these figures.

-- lion
 

You can't look at job losses in isolation.

That's why most of Brain's estimates for those who lose jobs in industries taken over by robots are wrong. Just because someone loses his or her job, doesn't mean they will stay unemployed. The affects are not cumulative though out time: just because 1/2 the jobs turnover in 10 years doesn't mean 50% of people are unemployed.

If anything unemployment is _low_ right now, so unless the argument is "this is the start of an immediate new trend", quoting recent major layoffs means little.

I mean, it’s _good_ of a company like HP were to become more efficient, for the same reason it is good to _not_ “buy American” if China can produce higher quality, cheaper products: the loss might be hard on a minority, but the streamlined system is good for everyone. Look at Japan, where “zombie” companies are kept alive to the detriment of all.
 

Oh; I should clarify:

Is 50,000 jobs a lot to lose right now?

Or is it just statistical fuzz on the background of ordinary life?

How do I know? (What references should I be looking at?)

-- lion
 

Kodak - Much like the typewriter, film is going the way of the dinosaur. So much of Kodak's core business was film sales, so is this really that big of a surprise?

HP - Make crappy computers (and ok printers). Our HP/Compaq computers give us hell on a daily basis almost, we will never buy from them again. The last I heard, Dell is booming.

Winn-Dixie - Consumers have to purchase their groceries from somewhere- I wonder if their competitors are hiring now that so many Winn-Dixie stores are closing? A shelf stocker's job is the same no matter where they work.

Sure, robots will play a roll in future job closings, but I don't see these closings as being caused by such.