This infographic, from Virtual Capitalist, shows the transition from the industrial era to the digital era in the United States between 1850 and 2015.
In 1850, 60% of the population worked in agriculture, compared with about 3% in 2015. During the agricultural age, it was more than 90% of the people who had to work the land.
Employment in the manufacturing sector peaked at 26% of the labour force in 1960. In 1850, it was almost 15% against less than 10% today.
In return, we notice the growth of employment in the service sector, mainly in trade, education and health. This particularly reflects certain characteristics of the digital age:
- Global Market (world economy).
- Greater complexity requiring more advanced education.
- Population living longer asking for more health care.
This transition is also reflected in the challenges faced by Governments that have to devote a large portion of the financial resources to health and education.
