The increase in automation would provide opportunities for tradespeople—specifically people in community college or those who decide not to pursue higher education—to become highly trained, according to Lutnick.
“You should see an auto plant,” he said. “It’s highly automated, but the people—the [4,000] or 5,000 people that work there—they are trained to take care of those robotic arms. They’re trained to keep the air conditioning [going].”
A Department of Commerce spokesperson told Fortune the agency was committed to reversing the trend of the manufacturing jobs leaving the U.S.. Since 1979, the country has lost 6.5 million manufacturing jobs due to outsourcing and previous policies, the person said.
“Secretary Lutnick is committed to revitalizing critical manufacturing in the United States,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
While robots do increase factory efficiency, it comes at the expense—not the addition—of factory jobs, the study showed.
Eric Blanc, a labor historian and Rutgers University labor studies professor, argues that beyond the theoretical idea of creating more factory jobs, there needs to be consideration of the quality and sustainability of those jobs.
“Just promising more factory jobs is not going to bring back prosperity,” Blanc said.
