Automation, broadly referring to the adoption of machines and computers in the production process, has become increasingly common across many sectors and countries. For example, the market for industrial robots has experienced a dramatic expansion in the last couple of decades, as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 | Annual shipments of industrial robots worldwide (thousand units]1 (130 In the meantime, a number of developed countries have experienced the 'missing middle' phenomenon as shown in Figure 2 below. Figure 2 l Projected Job Growth and Mean Annual Wage in the US (2014-24) Top quinlile (above $66390) Second quintile [below 566,790 and above 544.040) Third quinlile (below 544,040 and above $33,280) Fourth quintile (below $33,280 and above 526.380) Fifth quintile (below 526.380) annual wage 0 1.000 2,000 3,000 Total projected job growth 2014-24 (thousands of employees) Quinliles of employment in 2014: occupations with mean