Trends in Automation and Workforce – Manufacturing’s Job Crisis

Historically, there’s been a careful balance between automation and human labor in the workforce. Automation has the potential to vault productivity forward, but it also has the potential to eliminate jobs. With packaging automation, companies have to walk a very delicate line in bringing new automation to eliminate the truly demanding jobs.

On this episode of Case By Case, a podcast by Schneider Packaging, host Courtney Echerd talked with Matt Reynolds, Chief Editor at Packaging World, the flagship title of PMMI Media Group, founded in 1994 and the world’s best-read publication for professionals who use, recommend and purchase packaging equipment, materials and services.

The duo dug into automation, pandemic jobs losses and how brands involved in automation often have to convince their workers that automation will make their lives easier.

“The short answer is redistribution of labor,” Reynolds said on how to make automation work and keep jobs. “Away from the mundane, the most repetitive, the least ergonomically friendly, and the most prone to danger or injury, and toward more mentally stimulating positions.”

The tension between labor and automation was born out of an era when work was everywhere, according to Reynolds. Currently, that’s not the case, especially in the last 10 years and with challenges heightened by the pandemic.

A May report from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute showed that the pandemic erased 1.4 million U.S. manufacturing jobs. By the end of 2020, 820,000 of those jobs had been recouped, but the remaining had not, despite half a million job openings.

“That’s after it took us six years to claw back 600,000 jobs,” Reynolds said. “So, one step forward, two steps back.”

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Q2 2025
RM Q2 2025 Wrap Up
July 9, 2025

Rogue Marketing continues to lead with intention in a space often driven by noise. Q2 2025 reflected a strategic focus on substance, where each initiative supported long-term brand growth. The team transformed internal recognition efforts into enduring brand assets and refined event strategies through immersive, results-driven experiences. Website launches during the quarter balanced visual…

Read More
amateur radios
Hamvention Spotlight: Emergency Preparedness Led PrepHam Paul to Amateur Radios and a Rising Voice in the Field
July 9, 2025

PrepHam Paul (K5VLP) celebrated his first visit to Dayton Hamvention by marking a major channel milestone. He hosted a giveaway of the  IC-2370B mobile radio from Icom to thank viewers for helping him reach 10,000 subscribers. His passion for emergency preparedness, rooted in his experience as an Eagle Scout and later studies in emergency management,…

Read More
ham radios
Hamvention 2025: ICOM Ham Radios Inspire Beginners and Veteran Operators Alike
July 9, 2025

Dayton Hamvention 2025 drew amateur radio hobbyists of all experience levels who shared stories and personal milestones. ICOM ham radios took center stage in many of these testimonials, featuring longtime fans to new licensees discovering the hobby through family and school. Attendees praised the reliability, sound quality, and ease of use of models like…

Read More
global radio enthusiasts
Dayton Hamvention 2025: Global Radio Enthusiasts Rely on Icom Radios for Versatility and Reliable Performance
July 9, 2025

Radio operators from around the world gathered at Dayton Hamvention 2025 to share firsthand stories of connection, experimentation, and gear that stands the test of time. As digital modes, satellite operation, and mobile setups continue to grow in popularity, global radio enthusiasts reaffirmed Icom as a trusted choice across all experience levels.. A diverse…

Read More