Job loss through technological advancement, particularly technologies based on microelectronics, is increasing for all economic sectors in a nation already hard challenged in world and domestic markets for goods and services. But assessing technology's employment impact remains difficult not only because of its direct and indirect effects and income and price effects, but also because of the net impact issue. Whether technology destroys more jobs than it finally creates is unclear; it may simply lower employment growth. One factor is clear, however: past labor displacement has resulted from a reduced demand for specific services, from the introduction of machines, or from a substitution of foreign for domestic goods. Between 1972 and 1980, employment in 50 out of 235 occupations declined by 2 million jobs, and in 1983 Atari laid off 1,700 American workers and moved production overseas. But technology has also created jobs, especially in computer-related industries. Nonetheless, much evidence suggests that types of jobs both eliminated and created are generally low-skill and low-wage, and that new technologies threaten even more job displacement, both skilled and unskilled. One forecast estimates 20 million job losses by the year 2000. Whether economic growth can offset the trend cannot be predicted. (KS)