Increased productivity has mainly been brought about by automation and robotics obviously requiring fewer employees. The employer is the one who benefits from it.
Just recently seen a documentary on factory production where automation and robotics was a major part of the process. Even seen where forklifts were used requiring no operator.

I think you're right Jap69. If you're old enough, you may remember how we were assured in the 50's that automation wouldn't cause loss of jobs, it would allow us to work shorter work weeks and take longer vacations. It looks like it turned out the opposite, didn't it? The plutocrats will never willingly allow average workers and their families to live a decent life on 40 hours of work or less. They would have to give up too much of their own wealth. Look how they're scrambling to retain tax rates for themselves that are at historic lows, and dramatically lower than those of their European counterparts.