With my current employment, I have what I consider about 500,000 square feet of “lights out” factory. And while we do not employ thousands to fill that space, we do employ hundreds. There are plenty of techs to maintain the autmated equipment and workers who perform the final pack out. Its not that we need them for the packing, but it is a final QC check.
And while the US has been bleeding manufacturing jobs since the 80s, there is only so many jobs you can eliminate through automation. It could be that we have bottomed out. But only time will tell.
