your assumption that low pay, low skill jobs are the only ones vulnerable to automation is mistaken. the goal of artificial intelligence based automation is to perform functions that require minimal manual effort but a lot of intellectual effort. given that a computer beat the world's greatest chess player ever over 20 years ago suggests that that  horizon may not be too far off. i'm certainly not denying the expansion of automation, it's indeed everywhere. but your statement "the effect of demanding a living wage is lost jobs..." is not universally applicable. there are some low skill low paying jobs that will likely never be supplanted by automation, the fruit and vegetable industry being a prime example. a high level of education and skill set are not going to immediately and permanently make someone immune to automation, robots are already assisting with surgery. so where do you go to make yourself irreplaceable? maybe roll on down to the apple orchard or waffle house.