IELTS essay sample | Technology has resulted in the loss of jobs

Essay topic

Since the 18th century technological advances have replaced people in the workplace. With today’s technology this process is happening at a greater rate. Technology is increasingly responsible for unemployment.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Sample response

Modern technology has made our lives easier; however, technology like everything else has its advantages and disadvantages. Some people feel that technology has resulted in unemployment. I don’t quite agree with this statement.

A few decades ago, robots were merely a science fiction concept, but now they have started controlling many aspects of our lives. Technology has made many jobs redundant. In a matter of minutes a computer can perform tasks that will take a human being several days to complete.

Unemployment rates in the 21st century are somewhat higher than what it was a couple of decades ago. Inventors are working hard to build new machines and robots. Machines save labour and reduce the cost of production. Self-checkout machines installed in supermarkets have replaced cashiers. A lot of us now perform banking transactions online. We withdraw money from cash machines. As a result, many banks have stopped recruiting new employees. Even existing employees are being laid off.

Now let’s take a look at the other side of the coin. Automation has resulted in the loss of several jobs. It has also created many jobs because machines need people to operate them. Factories manufacturing computers, cell phones and ATM machines employ tens of thousands of people. These jobs were not available a few decades ago. The truth is that automation has created new professions. Machines require regular maintenance. Computers need operators and programmers. Teachers and instructors who show people how machines should be used are also in huge demand. What’s more, machines have enhanced our productivity and eliminated costly and dangerous errors.

To conclude, it is not hard to see that the advantages of automation outweigh the disadvantages. Using all the machines available today and still blaming them for lack of jobs is nothing but hypocrisy.