> As the population increasingly moves towards tech jobs, there's now a shortage of coconut harvesters in India.
This seems a very bold claim. I can believe that there is a shortage of people willing to do this job, but it is very hard to believe that the reason is the tech jobs.
Even in the USA IT workers represent less than 5% of all jobs.
Otherwise interesting how automation is increasing around the world.
I don't think it's because of tech jobs. But it is true that there is serious shortage of coconut harvesters in South indian states. The job is not very well paid compared to risk ( coconut market itself is not very stable and rewarding). Not sure if there are any good occupational accident insurance policies available to them.
It is shifting the labor market though. For example, those tech workers are eating out far more often, so there is greater demand for the Indian equivalent of burger flippers (dosa flippers?), which could be considered preferable job compared to the higher risk occupation of coconut tree climbing.
I find that claim fairly dubious as well.
The primary job killer currently is COVID-19, and it has hit India hard.
There are numerous restrictions on labour and several farmhands \(migrant workers from other states\) have returned home.
Worth noting that the university in question is situated in the same province, Tamil Nadu.
Section 144 has been imposed, which is a law that prohibits gatherings/assembly and gives the police sweeping powers to arrest/detain curfew breakers.
Point to note: migrant workers from other states are needed to work in the southern farms. The missing farm labour force are invisibly employed elsewhere. I would wager that it is in the tech sector.
I disagree. I took a look at Labour Report by the Government of India, https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/Report%20Vol%203%2..., which is based on the 2011 census data. A large portion of India's population is still poorly skilled.
Besides, the tech sector has a higher barrier to entry compared to the blue collar and agricultural sector.
Well, I'll say that Indian state demographics change slower than those of 'developed' countries.
Besides, California is an outlier, even within the States.
I also agree with you. However, there are large downstream effects of tech jobs.
1. Lots of people in rural places migrate to urban and semi urban places and make a living off of providing some sort of service to people in tech jobs.
2. A large section of young population in rural areas come to cities and start businesses, very small scale, such as eateries, curry points, trades, cab drivers, etc.
3. A good chunk of people go into the maintenance and services sector, such as building maintenance, sweepers, contractor jobs, etc.
4. A good chunk are employed in the large and ever expanding construction works in almost every nook and corner of India.
So each IT tech job, indirectly employs a bunch of other jobs, most of which are done by younger people.
So tech jobs do put a huge dent on the availability of labor services.
As an example, I am an engineer in a highly respected company, earning on par with an IT guy. But in the last decade, labor cost (daily wages for unskilled labor, usually in the construction business) has gone up to be about 1/4th of what I earn in one day. And that is a significant increase. It used to be about 1/10 of what I earned.
People may not be employed in that industry but many seek employment in it. Even when it pays much less than what would be considered reasonable, it’s more than what other professions pay. But yes it’s a dubious claim that IT is actually absorbing all that labor, more likely that IT industry has created an economic boom that has created non IT jobs in cities and not many younger Indians find the idea of being a coconut picker an attractive career.
This applies to other professions as well: education naturally makes families aware that they don’t need to continue in menial professions in villages so they send their kids to towns or cities.
I remember a bitch by someone that worked providing low income housing. What he said was one 'tech worker' whatever that tech is. Indirectly generates 2-3 support jobs. So for every tech worker you need to house 4 people.
In the case of India with a rising middle class for every family there are three other families providing services to them. No matter how shitty that work might be it's probably easier than harvesting coconuts.
I remember things my Mexican friend said about his family. In the 50's their grandfathers were seasonal farm workers in California. And then full time farm workers. The next two generations left farm work for things like working autobody shops, painting cars, making high end furniture. My friend and his brothers run and electronic assembly business. So moving up.
It is now possible to educate even the poorest kids to become tech workers. Many leave their villages and move to cities. I can believe it. Tech has truly created massive upward mobility and raised so many people out of crushing poverty. It is actually remarkable and something that always amazes me..this power of education.
This seems a very bold claim. I can believe that there is a shortage of people willing to do this job, but it is very hard to believe that the reason is the tech jobs.
Even in the USA IT workers represent less than 5% of all jobs.
Otherwise interesting how automation is increasing around the world.