Originally Posted by
beachmouse
I will note that in areas with boom-bust construction cycles, construction trades jobs can easily come and go too.
My area lost probably 30-40% of its former plumber and electrician jobs in the 2008-09 recession and despite both general new home building really picking up and hurricane recovery rebuilding, there are still fewer of those jobs locally than there were in 2005
Very true. One of the key requirement for keeping employed even as a skilled tradesperson (or anyone required to be physically present), is mobility. Those who are anchored to an area that is depopulating may find themselves underemployed/compensated even when demand for their skills is high overall.
A former neighbour who moved from a very hot economic area to someplace much less so a few years ago (may have changed since COVID) said trades labour rate were half the cost of what they were here.
Originally Posted by
JBord
Until they need to show up in court! Even Sheldon's Mobile Virtual Presence Device requires a human behind it
. But yes, I'd imagine most or all of the paperwork can be offshored or automated. Possibly more of the paralegal responsibilities in larger firms.
Even a few years ago, I read that 80% of U.S. law schools were unnecessary (as were their graduates). I guess pay from alternative professions & occupations was higher than what companies needing to review documents could find offshore and compuerisation.
Anecdotally, my brother leads a corporate accounting department, it's not a huge staff. He only has one male in the department, and he's the newest, in an entry-level position.
Pre-computerisation (well within the lifetimes of some people), imagine the legends of book keepers, accountants and financial clerks needed to keep books. Banks, when bank books were in the vogue and ledgers were all hand written.