Building the Future: How to Navigate If We Are Automated Out Of Our Jobs

We’re heading into a world where machines can do most jobs better, faster, and cheaper than humans. That means big changes—not just to the way we work, but to how we earn a living. If jobs disappear, and wages go with them, who’s left to buy things? How do we keep the economy going?

This is the heart of the economic agency paradox: Companies want to reduce staff to cut costs, but if no one has money to spend, demand collapses. So, what’s the solution? Here are some concepts based on the thinking of futurists such as David Shapiro, who is active on YouTube and worth following.

Rethinking Income: From Wages to Ownership

If traditional jobs can’t support most people, we need a new way for people to earn. The answer? Property-based income.

Instead of relying only on wages or government transfers, the goal is to build a system where people earn money from owning things—like land, businesses, or public assets. It’s about turning the things we collectively or privately own into steady income streams.

Picture a household where income comes from a mix of sources:

• A modest Universal Basic Income (UBI): A basic safety net, possibly funded by automation taxes.
  

• Dividends from public wealth funds: Income from shared assets like solar farms or land held in public trusts.
  

• Co-owned private assets: Things like credit unions or co-op-owned data centers that pay out profits.
  

• Personal investments: Stocks, bonds, rental properties—what many already use today.
  

• Residual wages: A small share of income may still come from jobs, especially those where human involvement is still preferred.
  

This mix spreads risk, keeps choices open, and helps people stay financially independent—even without a full-time job.

How We Get There: Real Tools, Not Theories

This isn’t just theory. There are real, proven ways to build this kind of economy. Here are a few examples:

• Employee ownership (ESOPs): Workers get a share of the company, earning dividends as it grows.
  

• Community Investment Trusts: Locals can buy into neighborhood projects and receive income from them.
  

• Land Value Dividends: Public increases in land value can be recycled into cash payouts for residents.
  

• Royalty Trusts: Income from public resources like spectrum or carbon credits gets shared with everyone.
  

• County Wealth Funds: Local governments manage assets to pay residents annual dividends—no new taxes needed.
  

• Dividend-Friendly Banks: Banks can help people collect, manage, and spend their dividends—just like income from a job.
  

• Seed Funding Models: Public and private money (like municipal bonds or philanthropic gifts) can jumpstart these systems.
  

Each of these models already exists somewhere. The goal is to scale what works.

The Timeline: What This Transition Could Look Like

The change will likely come in phases, pushed forward by rising unemployment due to automation.

Here’s a possible path:

1. Short-term (2025–2028): Start local pilots—county wealth funds, job-sharing plans.
   

2. Mid-term (2029–2032): Wage income continues to drop. Dividend income begins to fill the gap.
   

3. Long-term (2033–2035): Dividends could make up more than half of household income. Work becomes optional for many.
   

It’s ambitious—but automation moves fast. We’ll need to monitor key signals like job loss rates, working hours, and wage stagnation to stay ahead.

What Could Go Wrong—and How to Prevent It

A plan like this needs safeguards. Here are the main risks and how to tackle them:

• Elite Capture: Make sure assets are co-owned locally, not hoarded by a few. Use transparent rules and local governance.
  

• Policy Paralysis: Big unemployment shocks often push governments to act. History shows this pattern.
  

• Complacency: Create simple metrics (like an economic agency index) to track real progress.
  

• Backlash: Keep solutions practical, not ideological. Use proven tools and highlight local wins to build trust.
  

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters

This isn’t just about money. A property-based income system could also:

• Support sustainability by freeing up time and money for green investments.
  

• Strengthen local economies by rewarding people who spend and invest in their own communities.
  

• Boost resilience by giving people income that doesn’t depend on global markets or fragile jobs.
  

This vision doesn’t get rid of private property—it expands it. It’s about making ownership and income more inclusive, so more people benefit from automation, not just a lucky few.

Bottom line: This is about giving people the tools to stay financially independent in a world without steady jobs. It’s a big shift—but we have a map, real examples, and a chance to build something better.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to David Shapiro whose ideas are presented in this article. He is active on YouTube and I’d encourage you to follow his work.