Dive Brief:
- A new report by the Brookings Institute reveals that 29% of the 233, 305 industrial robots in America work in three states: Indiana (8.3%), Ohio (8.7%) and Michigan (12%), New Equipment Digest reported Wednesday.
- In order of ranking, Toledo, Ohio has the most with 9 robots per one thousand human workers. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Michigan area has the second most robots at 8.5 per one thousand, and Grand Rapids third, with 6.3 per one thousand workers.
- Overall, Michigan employs the most robots thanks to the auto industry, which purchases roughly 40% of all industrial robots worldwide, according to the International Federation of Robotics.
Dive Insight:
Despite fears that artificial intelligence (AI) is replacing human workers, the real issues are upgraded skills, lack of interest from younger workers and the failure of HR teams and company C-Suites to engage potential workers, resulting in fewer positions filled by human workers.
In fact, reaching out to STEM programs, hosting job fairs, encouraging apprenticeships and sponsoring junior college and college programs that help train future manufacturing workers is a positive method for recruiting staff. The reality is that manufacturing in the U.S. is currently rather healthy — what's lacking is human workers interested or able to support the technology that factories now employ.
Some sources suggest that millennials are the key to addressing workplace shortages. Companies determined to enlist the millennial generation can update communication strategies, leverage social media channels including YouTube and advertise strategically to find the talent they require. A concerted effort on the part of young manufacturing staff to mentor youthful workers could go miles toward bringing in new talent.
