ABSTRACT
In1900thelargestsinglegroup,indeedstillthemajority,ofthe Americanpeople,wereruralandmadealivingonthefarm.By1940,the largestsinglegroup,byfar,wereindustrialworkers,especiallysemiskilled (infact,essentiallyunskilled)machineoperators.By1960,thelargest singlegroupwerewhatthecensuscalled"professional,managerial,and technicalpeople,"thatis,knowledgeworkers.By1975,or,atthelatest by1980,thisgroupwillembracethemajorityofAmericansatworkin thecivilianlaborforce
Becausetheknowledgeworkertendstobeagooddealbetterpaid thanthemanualworker,andalsotohavemuchgreaterjobsecurity, knowledgehasalreadybecomethecentralcostoftheAmerican economy.Theproductivityofknowledgehasalreadybecomethekey toproductivity,competitivestrength,andeconomicachievement.
