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More sophisticated service jobs are also currently being automated. Radiographic
software has proven to be more accurate at analysing X-rays than humans. Johnson
& Johnson has been selling an FDA approved anaesthesiologist robot, and these days’
orthopaedic surgeons are already using automated machines to assist with surgery.

In response to the wave of sophisticated machine automation, Switzerland held a
referendum on unconditional basic income. Whilst the Swiss rejected an unconditional
basic income of $2 500 per month, Utrecht in the Netherlands plans to test an
unconditional basic income of about $10 000 per year.

Work does not only provide an income, but contributes to meaning in our lives. If robotic
automation does indeed threaten jobs to the extent to which analysts insist it would,
we would need to reconsider the notion of economic well-being, how it is measured,
and how economic growth fits into all of this. Even if the disruption creates new jobs
at a similar rate to which it makes jobs redundant, is our education system geared to
equip us with the required skills fast enough to take up these opportunities? What is
clear is that the future of employment involves more technology and more innovation,
and if we intend to be an employed part of it, we need to start planning not only for
employment in manufacturing, but in the innovation economy.

Nezaam Joseph
Director and Editor
Department of Economic Development & Tourism

Thank you for all your constructive feedback on previous editions. Please feel free to
comment on content or any other matters that will improve future editions.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Editor/Lead Economist:
Nezaam Joseph

Assistant Editor/Economist:
Celeste Kriel
Economists:
Miracle Mangena
Gershon Oliver
Junior Economists:
Victoria Delbridge
Gino Engle
Leonard Mamogobo
Marian Schroeder

Contributors:
Dr Hildegarde Fast
Russell Boezak
WESGRO

4 QUARTERLY ECONOMIC BULLETIN 2016