wrote in message ...


The problem is that kind of technology hits your typical "college
graduate" job the hardest.
If there wasn't a very strong engineer's union, most of those jobs
would be replaced by a $100 CAD program. You are really just paying
for the "stamp" anyway.

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In my field we used to write technical proposals and manuals in
longhand on pads of paper. We'd cover the generic sections using the
original "cut and paste", meaning we physically cut sections out of
previously written documents and scotch tape them into the new one.
From there, the document went to the secretary who typed it all out on
an IBM Selectric typewriter.

As we started to use computers and word processing programs, the
requirement for the typist obviously went away.

The engineering department typically consisted of degreed engineers
doing the calcs and writing the specifications. Draftsmen sat at
drafting tables with T squares and French curves, producing the
fabrication drawings.

As CAD programs came into play, the need for a separate drafting
department diminished and in many cases has all but disappeared.
Engineers can easily produce their own drawings ..... faster and with
fewer errors. So, again, jobs were eliminated.