This is probably true, but you overestimate the prosperity of "white collars", at least of those who could be replaced with simple ANN or even script. "White collars" are subject to inflation too. There are too many of that useless "white collars" on the workforce market today, so their actual cost is not very high and their lifestyle is pretty low.

Recall, all that "downshifters", "hikkimori", "car haters", "cyclists" and other lowlifers mostly grow out from lower level "white collars". And it's not only fashion or propaganda, it is also a need to cut spending along with saving face of "white collar".

Like "I don't buy a car and ride bicycle not because I can't afford car, service parts, fuel, parking lot, etc, but because cars are bad for climate and bicycles and public transport are good, and so I practicise that."

Funny, when f.e. such "car hater" and "public transport apologist" get promotion, the first thing he instantly do, when car became affordable to him, is buying the car and began to be seriously offended when asked about shit he declared just week ago.