It's both the identifying thing and of course the steady (and mostly - high) income. Could be quite a hit for many people to become economically dislocated just like that.
It's the income for me. This career was my only ticket out of poverty, it actually saved me from an otherwise horrible life. Now supposed to cheer that I might very well be replaced in the foreseeable future? It's the only line of work I'm skilled at or qualified to do and I honestly don't know what awaits me if I lose it.