The pilot workload on the 747-400 was reduced by some 17% compared to the 747 classic.In the process of this automation they got rid of a flight engineer and reduced the need for S/O's.
I wonder where that 17% number came from? Basically we had three blokes doing their job in the Classic, and then in the 744 the work previously done by the engineer was given to the pilots. I flew both, and I didn't notice that I had less to do, but rather I had to concern myself with systems that were once looked after by a specialist. So perhaps the flying side got 17% easier, but they balanced that out by giving both of us 50% (each) of what the engineer did.
And then you have the Airbus, in which the flying is harder, and the engineering work is 150% of what it was in the Classic.