Technology and automation has led to much greater efficiencies and output for every human in the workforce over the last 50 years. How come this hasn’t led globally to less working hours or a shorter work week for the average worker?

Question

EDIT: Replace ‘every human in the workforce’ with ‘most people’. I agree efficiency has not been gained equally across all professions.

In: Economics

Answer 1

Management/ownership still has more leverage than workers. They’d rather make workers keep working same amount of time and reap higher profits than reduce work and keep profits the same. They also have used their leverage to not even increase pay in line with workers’ productivity.