Amazon’s announcement that it will invest US$700 million to retrain 100,000 employees—a third of its U.S. workforce—in new technologies is the latest reminder that the much-heralded future of work is well underway. Policy makers, analysts, and scholars trying to discern the retailer’s motives and objectives chalked it up to a public relations move or the natural result of a tight labor market.… Read more

Amazon Inc.’s plan to upskill employees claims that several occupations are growing at phenomenal rates. The fastest growing, what Amazon dubs “data mapping specialist,” is telling. It may point to Amazon’s efforts to improve delivery times. The company’s second fastest growing occupation is data scientist. Amazon cited its list of fastest growing occupations as part of its $700 million plan to upskill its workforce.… Read more

On Wednesday, 140 House Republicans, 224 House Democrats, and Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) — led by Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) — voted to allow Indian nationals to effectively monopolize the U.S. green card system for at least ten years, providing a constant stream of foreign workers that American professionals will be forced to compete against for white-collar jobs.… Read more