The Impact of Self-Serve Checkout Stations on Supermarket Employees

What type of unemployment is experienced when grocery checkers at a supermarket are replaced by self-serve checkout stations?

A. Seasonal unemployment

B. Frictional unemployment

C. Structural unemployment

D. Cyclical unemployment

Final answer:

Being replaced by self-serve checkout stations as a supermarket grocery checker is an example of structural unemployment, a resultant of a disconnect between job skills and job availability, particularly when advancing technology renders certain jobs obsolete.

When grocery checkers at a supermarket are replaced by self-serve checkout stations, it falls under the category of structural unemployment. This type of unemployment occurs when there is a mismatch between the skills possessed by workers and the skills demanded by employers in the market.

Structural unemployment is typically caused by technological advancements, shifts in consumer needs, or changes in the economy that make certain jobs redundant. In this case, the introduction of self-serve checkout stations has eliminated the need for traditional grocery checkers.

Workers who experience structural unemployment may face challenges in finding new employment that aligns with their skillset. This can lead to long periods of unemployment and the need to acquire new skills or training to adapt to the changing job market.