Part 11/16:
This transition has profound implications for the traditional American employment model, which historically relied on stable, middle-class jobs in corporate settings. As AI replaces routine corporate roles, the middle layer of employment is hollowed out, leading to a bifurcated labor market: high-skilled, tech-driven roles on top, low-skilled service jobs at the bottom, and a shrinking middle class.
The Future of Work, Education, and Policy
The implications are urgent and unsettling. Education and skills no longer serve as guarantees of job security; automation can replicate tasks once deemed irreplaceable. This erodes the social contract—one where hard work, education, and loyalty ensures economic stability.