Robotics is the vital key to expanding automation. That key, in turn, is the catalyst to creating even more wealth and jobs for the U.S. economy according to many leading economists.
The most recent Labor Department jobs report disclosed 312,000 new jobs created for the 99th straight month of job creation. This is another new all-time record but much more can be done in the area of developing and creating robotic engineering jobs and improving our economy.
There are many horror stories sounding the alarm that robots will eliminate our jobs. However, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting workers have much to gain from additional robotics. Research shows that the more robots a country has, the higher its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and the wealthier its citizens become.
Economics Encourages More Robotics Technical Recruiting
Most economists argue that automation actually creates more jobs. That is in sharp contrast to the voices of many assembly line workers who fear automation will eliminate their jobs in the short run.
However, in the long run, robotics automation often drives down the prices of goods and services. According to simple economics principles, this results in extra consumer buying power. Consumers spend more on added products, which improves the economy and results in creating even more jobs!
Robots ultimately benefiting employees sounds counterintuitive because automation does destroy jobs. The jobs that result from robotics automation are impossible to predict let alone train workers for. However, who at the birth of the digital computer age could have predicted the masses of cybersecurity or e-commerce jobs that ultimately arose?
Technology Report Shows U.S. Robotics Loosing Momentum
A recently released report from one of the world’s leading science and technology think tanks, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), shows the U.S. is falling behind the rest of the world with respect to robotics adoption.
Their new index compares the rate of adoption of industrial robots in manufacturing in different countries, while accounting for the average salaries of workers in those countries and industries.
The ITIF report found that the U.S. is adopting industrial robots at a much slower pace than the rest of the world. This contrasts with China, which is adopting robotics at such a rapid pace that it could lead the world in use of robots within 10 years.
Overall, the U.S. ranks 7th in the world in its ratio of robots to manufacturing workers. Other countries are zooming past us including South Korea, China, Germany, Japan and Singapore.
There are several reasons for this robotics problem. One is that the U.S. hasn’t had the same demographic pressures as Germany and Japan. Their worker shortages and high wages have forced them into using more robots. Another may be our slipping STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) educational training.
Whatever the cause, it is time for U.S. leaders to wake up and push robotics engineering. Otherwise, we risk becoming a second rate nation!
Call me today at 312-944-4000 to discuss how we can assist with your robotics engineering efforts. Or click here for my full contact information.
