What the Industrial Revolution can teach the Digital Revolution
A summary of the Illinois Future of Work’s Third Task Force Meeting
Written by Hannah Gregor, University of Chicago
On November 30, 2021, the Illinois Future of Work Task Force met for the third time at Elgin Community College, hosted by Senator DeWitte. The task force, created by Governor Pritzker and led by Senator Ram Villivalam and Leader Marcus Evans and Senator DeWitte, is exploring ways to make the state’s workforce more inclusive and resilient. The task force’s charge is broad: to consider and produce a set of evidence-based policy recommendations that help the state create equitable, long-term economic growth; and to ensure all Illinoisans share in that success. The third meeting of the task force covered the effects of emerging technologies on the future of work.
The meeting participants all agreed that we are entering a digital revolution. Technology is advancing rapidly, changing the landscape of our work, homes, and lives. The global pandemic has only compounded the pace of this change. Unfortunately, rapid advancement inevitably leaves some behind. Automation is displacing workers, and at the same time, slow-moving policy has not kept up with new business practices. Our third meeting with the task force centered on how businesses, policymakers, and communities can more effectively adapt to the transformation of labor in this new economy. There was consensus amongst participants that we must look for solutions that allow everyone to share in the new prosperity brought by technology. All of our speakers espoused optimism, urging us to look at the history of the United States, because, while we are in a new technological age, there is historical precedent for adapting and thriving through fundamental changes.
The task force was reminded that the industrial revolution helped us understand how society can transform itself, and that progress is possible. The initial impacts of the industrial revolution brought rampant inequality, hazardous work conditions, environmental harm, and overall poor quality of life. However, prompted by the power of workers’ voices, expanded government social support, and innovative business practices, we were able to use technological advances to spread the benefits of industrialization to a wide swath of society. Similarly, in the digital revolution, we face similar challenges, but through leading-edge solutions and collaboration, we can create an economy that works for everyone.
The first speaker featured was Darrell West, Vice President and Director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institute, who argued that the dawn of a new revolution must require a new social contract. Emerging technology comes with risks, leaving people behind and increasing inequality, but at the same time there are meaningful opportunities for workers to move toward more fulfilling occupations as machines handle monotonous, dirty, and dangerous jobs. West looked to history, explaining how the industrial revolution brought massive government support like Social Security, Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance. He added that we must make similarly large investments to meet the needs of everyone. West argued that a new social compact should include increased social supports, perhaps in the form of portable benefits, and an emphasis on life-long learning. He urged the task force members to push state and local government policymakers to create and rigorously evaluate pilot programs of new ideas that advance this new social contract. These pilot programs could lay the groundwork for how our nation responds to the digital revolution.
Our second speakers at the meeting were from Upturn Chicago, a non-profit which promotes equity in technology use and governance, Aaron Rieke, Managing Director, and Natasha Duarte, Project Manager. The Upturn team implored the task force to consider the ramifications of rapid technological change and the risks of government policies that fail to keep pace with advancing practices. Rieke and Duarte shared their research of hiring practices used by large companies, including predictive technology, AI assessment of interviews, and data collection, among others. They warned the task force that these practices often increase discrimination in the hiring process and further inflate the power that employers have over prospective employees. They recommended the task force adopt policies that strengthen enforcement standards of discrimination occurring through technology, limit the information companies collect on employees to only essential skills, and increase employee feedback during the hiring process. Illinois is a leader in this space with the Illinois Artificial Intelligence Interview Act bill, but Rieke and Duarte advocated for the task force to continue the crucial work of enforcement and transparency.
Our final section of the meeting featured two business leaders sharing insights and innovative work with emerging technologies, Kate Gebo of United Airlines and Nicole Overley of Deloitte Consulting. While automation and AI can put workers at risk companies are actively creating solutions that allow technology to diversify and improve their business. Kate Gebo shared two programs United has implemented with AAR for air traffic controllers and the United Aviation academy, which are increasing the talent pool and diversity in their pilot and air traffic controllers programs. Nicole Overley asked the task force to consider the likely scenario where technology creates more opportunities in new career fields and advised members to consider solutions that train workers in the skills necessary for those roles.
The digital revolution is upon us and Illinois leaders must answer. The industrial revolution taught us the pitfalls of rapid change and the harm it can do to the most vulnerable, but it also provides a framework for the path forward. Our speakers encouraged us to explore how communities, governments, and businesses can work together to create a more equitable workforce and economy. We may not know what is around the corner so the task force ought to prepare policy solutions that center humanity and common prosperity.
ABOUT THE TASK FORCE
The Illinois Future of Work Task Force was created by the Illinois Future of Work Act (Public Act 102–407) to be proactive and plan for the future of work while simultaneously addressing the state of work today. It consists of members that represent business, labor, education, and the environment, as well as members of the General Assembly and leadership from state executive agencies. The task force is co-chaired by Senator Villivalam, Senator DeWitte, and Leader Evans. Economic Security for Illinois supports the logistics and management of the task force in partnership with Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The University of Chicago’s Inclusive Economy Lab, University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, and Metropolitan Planning Council as academic partners supporting the task force in the production of the final report and monthly meetings.
