Andy Grove is worrying about yesterday's jobs. He shouldn't be. No one was worrying about agricultural jobs disappearing, replaced by manufacturing jobs. As tec

Andy Grove is worrying about yesterday's jobs. He shouldn't be. No one was worrying about agricultural jobs disappearing, replaced by manufacturing jobs. As technology advanced, fewer farmers were needed to satisfy the basic needs of the consumer. As their basic needs were satisfied new needs for random widgets, plastic toys and entertainment devices appeared, creating opportunities in manufacturing. Today, service jobs has mostly replaced jobs in manufacturing in developed countries; The amount of service & creative work (e.g giving massages, selling products, and of course inventing the next digital device) output an American worker can produce makes it uneconomical to put the worker in a mundane factory making McDonald's toys instead. As technology advances and robotics replaces even factory workers in developing countries, more labor will be freed up to do other things. As had happened in the past, when the most basic consumer needs are resolved there will always be new needs arising; Where yesterday's consumer demanded shelter, food, clothing and a radio, today's consumer demands cars, houses, artwork, internet, hot water supply and monthly professional haircuts. The circle of increasing supply leading to increased demand and thus increased supply again is a virtuous one.