Bunuel wrote:
The proportion of manufacturing companies in Alameda that use microelectronics in their manufacturing processes increased from 6 percent in 1979 to 66 percent in 1990. Many labor leaders say that the introduction of microelectronics is the principal cause of the great increase in unemployment during that period in Alameda. In actual fact, however, most of the job losses were due to organizational changes. Moreover, according to new figures released by the labor department, there were many more people employed in Alameda in the manufacturing industry in 1990 than in 1979.
Which of the following, if true, best reconciles the discrepancy between the increase in unemployment and the increase in jobs in the manufacturing industry of Alameda?
CR98461.01
Question Type: Resolve the Paradox |
Time Taken: 1 min 56 sec
Let's consolidate the data provided in the question w.r.t manufacturing industry for the period between 1979 and 1990
1. Adoption of microelectronics: Increased from 6% to 66%
2. Labor leaders - This adoption caused increase in unemployment in the city
3. Author - It was organizational changes and not this adoption that caused the unemployment
4. Actual data cites that number of people employed in '79 > number of people employed in '90
We are asked to solve the paradox between point 2 and point 4 from the summary above. And in order to do that, we will ask the question that does this option tell us why the number of employees increase in the city?
First the correct answer:
(D) In 1990 over 90 percent of the jobs in Alameda’s manufacturing companies were filled by workers who moved to Alameda because they had skills for which there was no demand in Alameda prior to the introduction of microelectronics thereThis option addresses both the points i.e. 2 and 4
a. It provides insight into the increase in the number of employees by citing that these employees came from outside the city
b. It provides insight into the increase in unemployment that the lack of skills of employees within the city lead to the unemployment, requiring companies to hire from outside the city
(A) Many products that contain microelectronic components are now assembled completely by machineDoes the fact that products are now assembled by machine answer our question? No
(B) Workers involved in the various aspects of the manufacturing processes that use microelectronic technology need extensive trainingDoes the fact about training needs answer our question? No
(C) It is difficult to evaluate numerically what impact on job security the introduction of microelectronics in the workplace had before 1979Does the challenge to evaluate answer our question? No
(E) Many workers who have retired from the manufacturing industry in Alameda since 1979 have not been replaced by younger workersDoes the fact about replacing retiring workers answer our question? No
Ans. D