Robots vs. Skills Gap: How Automation Is Fueling U.S. Manufacturing Growth

On December 12, the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) released a comprehensive report detailing North American automation sales for the first nine months of 2017. The data show record‑breaking performance across robotics, machine vision, motion control, and motor technologies.

Two days later, the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) held a webinar titled "Future Growth Opportunities and the Current State of the U.S. Plastics Industry." President and CEO Bill Carteaux emphasized that the skills gap is threatening continued growth in plastics and broader U.S. manufacturing.

During the Q&A, PLASTICS Chief Economist Perc Pineda explained that many manufacturers are struggling to locate qualified workers—both for routine roles and for positions that require advanced skills. As a result, companies are turning to automation to increase efficiency and remain cost competitive.

Automation technologies, especially those augmented by artificial intelligence, now offer capabilities far beyond simple pick‑and‑place. Pineda noted that automation can serve as a short‑to‑medium‑term solution to labor shortages, but long‑term success will still depend on skilled human talent.

Carteaux warned that the skills gap is moving from anecdotal to empirical, potentially stalling business growth if qualified hires remain scarce. He called for a renewed focus on training young people for the jobs that exist today, rather than the roles of the past.

According to the A3 report, key figures for the first nine months of 2017 include:

• 27,294 robot orders valued at approximately 1.473 billion dollars—a 14% increase in units and a 10% rise in dollar value over 2016.
• 25,936 robots shipped across North America, worth 1.496 billion dollars—a record 18% growth in units and a 13% increase in dollar value over 2016.

These automation systems are not merely "dumb" machines; many incorporate vision and inspection capabilities, enabling fully automated, or "lights‑out," production lines. The question remains: can automation evolve to free workers from routine tasks while still requiring human expertise?