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

Because rather than hire two people to work 20 hours a week they hire one to work 40.

And because they pay D dollars before automation and advancements and also D dollars after no one could live off 20 hours a week of pay anyway.

It does increase production rates of the company which leads to bigger and more profitable contracts but that just translates to a more profitable business for the owners.

The rich get richer.