The Robots are Coming and They Don’t Want Our Jobs

urrent economic indicators show that with low employment and churn rate (employee turnover/attrition rate), job stability has remained largely unchanged from 1950-2000 and has actually increased in the last 15 years. In fact, investment in automation is somewhat low, with only a relatively small number of leading innovators fully investing in automation. At the current rate of growth, automation will gradually become a major factor only in 25 years.

What we’ve found in our own workplace is that robotics and humans make ideal partners. Robotic part handling and automation have been applied in situations that are tedious, dangerous, or where machine-driven precision yields better productivity. The result is a happier, healthier workforce.

What is changing is the kind of work humans perform. In precision manufacturing that work is becoming increasingly focused on technical, higher skilled jobs – fortunately, we invest in training and have an apprenticeship program so that we can cultivate the skilled workers we require. The future of humans and robots working together looks bright.