There's something of a Scylla and Charybdis thing going on, where if humans become too valuable, it becomes worth it to exploit them, but if they're not valuable enough, it's not worth it to pay them.

Tech can move things either way---automating things can make people worthless, but providing new tools (Engelbart's "bicycle for the mind") can make them more valuable.

Formula 1 drivers are valuable athletes, but in 1850 they'd just have been guys with slightly better reflexes.