Has the decline of knowledge work begun?

The truth many will not want to admit is that knowledge work is essentially the “rentier income” version of labor.

You secure an asset (specialized knowledge), and then you just live off of it while doing the minimal work you can, by turning yourself into an asset.

Even though this affords many people a comfortable life, much like being a landowner of a vast portfolio of properties, it contributes to the inequality and degradation of society, splitting people between those who must labor physically and those who look down at them comfortably from high balconies.

Society will not be worse off with most people doing physical labor. It was that way for thousands of years and humanity flourished. People may not like it, but humanity can only truly relax and do nothing when it has reached its peak and every problem is solved, and we are just not there yet. Back to work.

Nonsensical take. Quick question: What scarce resource is it that knowledge workers hoard? If a knowledge worker acquires knowledge does that mean they've reduced the pool of knowledge available to others? It's not at all the same as hoarding capital or property, is it? Anyway, all labor is knowledge work. The plumber has specialized knowledge that the software engineer does not, and we all sell our bodies and minds.