The creation of new work is a good thing

The notion that technological innovation and automation inevitably lead to job losses is a misconception, according to a reader's opinion piece in Helsingin Sanomat. Historically, as technology automates certain tasks, new forms of work emerge, often leading to increased overall productivity and societal advancement.

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When some tasks are automated, people's time is freed up for more productive work.

The author references a previous column that suggested work continues to be created despite technological advancements. This perspective is framed not as a negative consequence, but as a positive development. When tasks are automated, human labor is redirected towards more productive endeavors. An example cited is the Finnish forest industry, where mechanization has shifted workers from manual labor to other roles, contributing to the nation's progress.

This growth in productivity is presented as the cornerstone of modern society's wealth. The piece highlights that between 1860 and 2015, Finland's GDP per work hour increased approximately 25-fold. This significant economic expansion would not have been possible if new work had not consistently replaced the old.

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This is a good insight, and historically, things have generally gone this way: new work has always emerged to replace old work.

Therefore, the emergence of new jobs as old ones are automated is not inherently detrimental. If this pattern had not held true historically, societies would likely have more leisure time but would also be considerably poorer, with a much lower standard of living compared to today.

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Modern society's prosperity has not arisen from nothing but has required strong economic growth. The key source of economic growth is productivity growth.