I think that the general consensus is that the industrial revolution did end up replacing many of the jobs that it eliminated, and then some, it just took time.

I think that the general consensus is that the industrial revolution did end up replacing many of the jobs that it eliminated, and then some, it just took time. This new revolution in automation may do the same, or it may not. I like to look at the very real possibility of self driving cars and trucks. How many truck drivers are employed today? They will be made obsolete very quickly once self driving trucks hit the market. Where are they going to turn for work? Are they going to suddenly become a programmer, writer, graphic designer, etc? I don't think so. Manual labor jobs were much more interchangeable than labors of the mind.