Scanning Barcodes: Self-Checkouts’ Effect on Labor Markets and Implications for Social Work

Curtner, Gage

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/113575 Copy

Description

Title

Scanning Barcodes: Self-Checkouts’ Effect on Labor Markets and Implications for Social Work

Author(s)

Curtner, Gage

Issue Date

2021

Keyword(s)

• Economics
• Labor
• Automation
• Self-Checkout
• COVID-19

Abstract

The self-checkout kiosk has become a prevalent form of technology that has brought up many questions of the future of jobs and employment for Americans. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced volatility in low-wage positions as well as reduced the buying power of the minimum wage (Cooper et al., 2019). Self-checkouts seem to be the next looming frontier of automation. By analyzing data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (2003-2019), self-checkouts do not prove to be a detriment to human jobs. Instead, they prove to be the next iteration of jobs utilizing technology to improve organizational efficiency. Changes in the labor market reveal ways social workers can adapt to assist theirclients in navigating the resulting impact of self-checkouts (Anderson, 2019). As such, it is a necessity for social workers to understand the changes to the labor market in order to effectively serve their clients and improve their quality of life. Social workers may need to help clients access crucial resources, such as financial assistance, safe childcare, and job skill opportunities.

Publisher

University of Illinois School of Social Work

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/113575

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2020 Gage Curtner

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