[A. Pole]

In other words, our workers are "freed up" from doing more menial things to do more skilled work.

"Freed up", I like it. Do not say "you are laid off" or "you are fired". Say "you freed up".

[MrB]

Buggy whip manufacturers were similarly freed up, as were typewriter makers more recently.

Are you saying that there should have been some government interference to keep those people employed in their chosen profession?