In the neo liberal economic order there is nothing like secured permanent jobs with long term pension facilities. Jobs are contractualised and project based. Market economy has become pure contracing economy where money wage always lag behind prices and hence real wage is low and that makes both wife and husband to take up job to compensate. But this breaks down the the age old division of labour between wife and husband.
Increasing entry of women in a dwindling labour market also restricts the space for men to get work. Since wages offered for women are low it becomes more difficult for men to compete.
At family level there are more emotional and financial costs. Working women need to balance work and family.
In a high tech world where AI has made more in roads, really a fast and furious world unless and until the worker breathes his job and loves it and also contribute to the productivity of the firm on par with AI he or she will find unwanted.
At a psychological level when the opposite sex is entering into labour market male's chances are affected ego is threatened.
Psychiatrist Willard Galvin sums up the existential dilemma thus:
"Nothng is more important to a man's pride, self respect, status and manhood than work.... Pride is built on work and achievement and the success that accrues from that work. Yet today men often seems confused and contradictory in their attitudes about work".
In a growing economy with all diversification job will not be a problen. But in a tariff ridden protectionist environment and recession frustrated and dominated by high energy costs, entering into a new job or holding on to existing one is a hazardous task
AI adds more insult to the injury although experts say that it will inaugurate a new era and human intelligence has got its own role to survive.
What about the stress to family when either wife or husband is out of job and social security is virtually nonexistent? How can millions of people coming out of the factory called university fit into this environment?
When these people notice the retrenchment of labour, they will have the irritability and anger and fall into depression.. When the state has abandoned its full employment objecive and inflation too is going out of control despite the alleged inflation targetting at low level life becomes really challenging. In this uncertain world if everyone wants job befitting of his qualifications and skill he will be getting more disappointment.
More than success people want to survive with some modest income. Kindly note that women's entry can't be stopped as the role of women has changed for the better. Male ego is sandwiched between AI and women's entry.
To be continued
