Ohio Ag Connection - Robotics Industry Poised to Help U.S. Rebound from Pandemic

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Robotics Industry Poised to Help U.S. Rebound from Pandemic
Ohio Ag Connection - 06/30/2020

How will the U.S. economy rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic?

According to an April 10, 2020, article published by Forbes, the key to unlocking this mystery could involve more businesses embracing the robotics.

Written by Shahin Farshchi, the article -- entitled Expect More Jobs And More Automation In The Post-COVID-19 Economy -- begins by summarizing how this crisis has forced numerous businesses, factories and warehouses to close to protect the health of their employees. As a result, thousands of loyal employees have lost their jobs and many businesses have been forced into either economic limbo or financial ruin.

Farshchi cites a report by the International Federation of Robotics that concluded that decreasing production and maintenance costs have made the prospect of converting to robotics much more accessible to businesses across the globe.

The article illustrates the part automation could play in helping the U.S. economy bounce back from this social and economic crisis:

According to the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, by 2030, up to 30% of all jobs in the U.S. will become automated.

McKinsey also predicts that automation and artificial intelligence will play a major role in helping businesses increase productivity and expand their overall economic growth The World Economic Forum estimates that emerging professions resulting from automation could account for 6.1 million jobs globally between 2020 to 2022.

According to the WEF, automation will generate many new opportunities for fulfilling people's potential and aspirations.

Businesses that embrace robotics are more capable of protecting their employees from being exposed to pathogens during future pandemics.

Farshchi points out that instead of replacing humans in the workforce automation protects them by taking over tasks that were difficult and dangerous, citing inventor William Seward Burroughs. When Burroughs created the first adding machine in 1885, skeptics were fearful that his creation would put accountants out of work. On the contrary, his invention made their job easier by sparing them from spending hours upon hours tediously checking ledgers for errors.

Beginning Autumn 2020, Hocking College will offer an Architectural and Mechanical Design degree program. The program is designed to prepare students to enter the advanced manufacturing and robotics industry

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Neuvoo, the average salaries for specific positions in the advanced manufacturing field are:

The average salary for a robotics technician was $53,235.

The average annual salary for a CAD technician/designer/drafter is $52,650.

The median pay for an electronics technician is $64,330.

Medical equipment repairers have a median pay of $49,210.

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