Increasingly alarmed at the pace of technological change, workers and policy-makers struggle with persistent unemployment after a “jobless recovery” and as a wide range of jobs are automated and outsourced. Even (or perhaps especially) those at the forefront of technological innovation find it hard to keep up. Despite its challenges, this era also presents unprecedented opportunities as various barriers to entry are lowered in education and other economic sectors. How do we successfully navigate these challenges and opportunities? This presentation will review historical trends that can shed light on our present challenges and suggest ways of better preparing to meet them. It will also discuss surprising expert predictions about the near future and how they might radically affect our everyday lives.

Carl Youngblood