Rather, they had marketable skills, such as carpentry, electrical work, and manufacturing. Each worker specialized in a certain discipline, and there were just enough people working in each field to provide employment during economic prosperity. Today, almost everyone has a high school diploma or equivalent, and their value means almost nothing. Jobs that can be obtained with only a high school diploma are generally fast food, and almost all are minimum wage with little chance of advancement. A trade school or college education has generally greatly improved employment chances, but, with the added emphasis on earning a college degree, they are starting to become as common as a high school diploma , and with nothing more to distinguish a candidate from the rest of the world. other options, the chances of being hired decrease significantly. Why is this exactly? Shouldn't a society require effort from each of its members to function fully? Well, yes and no. With technological advances, the amount of labor required of human workers is decreasing, as machines take over traditional jobs in areas such as manufacturing and agriculture. In 1780, American farmers made up about 70% of the population {find the exact stats}, and today, in 2015, farmers make up only 2% of the population, while still producing enough food for the country due progress in both agricultural areas. cultivation equipment and methods. With few options available in these manual labor fields, and even fewer people aspiring to work in these fields because they simply don't have the pay or rewards of the service sector.