rrbatch

U.S. Manufacturing: More Output with Fewer Workers

Mark - Good post! Why should the decline in manufacturing population be different from the history of farm population? In 1850, 64% of the US population worked on the farm; in 1900 it was 38%; in 1950 12%, and now about 2% - and farm production far exceeds what we need to feed the rest of the US population. Automation and process innovation (more than outsourcing) will continue to reduce the population working in mills and factories, both here and overseas, while sustaining production of the material goods we consume.

Are the engineers and programmers who develop new products and processes working in manufacturing or the service industry? Sure there will be dislocations of unskilled labor as increased productivity demands higher skill levels. This should be an incentive for all to obtain their highest attainable level of education, or to accept the menial tasks that will remain as society advances.