In general, the jobs that remain-and especially the manufacturing jobs-require more education and more skills. For example, the five occupations projected to grow fastest in the first decade of the 2000s depend on computers-computer engineers, computer support specialists, computer systems analysts, database administrators, and desk- manufacturing
Top publishing specialists.15 furthermore, automation and just-in-time manufacturing systems mean that even manufacturing jobs require more reading, mathematics, and communication skills than before.
Skilled machinist Chad Toulouse illustrates the modern blue-collar worker. After an 18-week training course, this former college student now works as team leader in a plant where about 40 percent of the machines are automated. In older plants, machinists would manually that cut chunks of metal into things like engine parts. Today, Chad and his team spend much of their time typing commands into computerized machines chat create precision parts for products including water pumps. Like other modern machinists, he earns about $45,000 per year (including overtime).16