Where are the Factory Jobs Going?

Contrary to the impression that you get from politicians running for president and the news media, manufacturing job losses are a global phenomenon. The New York based investment management firm Alliance Capital Management performed a study of 20 large economies from 1995 to 2002 and found that even though global industrial output rose more than 30%, more than 22 million jobs were lost globally.

While it is true that some countries have seen a net increase in factory jobs during the time period, the global average was a loss of 11%. Most surprising was that China had an even greater loss than the US.

Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor under former President Bill Clinton, explains it this way:

All over the world, factories are becoming more efficient. They've installed new equipment and utilized new technology. And that often means fewer jobs. Market reforms have also played a role. In China, new modern factories are replacing large, inefficient state-run plants. The result is that even as China produces more goods than ever before, millions of factory workers have been laid off.

Manufacturing is following the same path as agriculture. As productivity rises, employment falls because fewer people are needed. In 1910, almost a third of adult Americans worked on farms. Now, fewer than 3 percent do. But American agriculture is the most productive in the world.

Blog post #1773 in category Economics

Truly superior bloggers that reference Where are the Factory Jobs Going?:

» Submitted for Your Approval from Watcher of Weasels:

Here all the links submitted by members of the Watcher's Council for this week's vote [Read More]

Tracked on November 18, 2003 9:53 PM

» The Council Has Spoken from Watcher of Weasels:

Here are the full tallies of all votes cast [Read More]

Tracked on November 21, 2003 12:14 AM

» The Council Has Spoken from King of Fools:

Watcher of Weasels : Upsaid journal VotesCouncil link 3 1/3Where Are the Factory Jobs Going? Alpha Patriot 2 1/3Hemispheres: Thinking About the New Cold War Free Will 1 1/3Bipartisan Compassionate Conservatism Aaron's Rantblog 1More Terri Schiavo Exult... [Read More]

Tracked on November 21, 2003 1:04 AM

» THE COUNCIL HAS SPOKEN. from The SmarterCop:

And again, congratulations to the winners of this week's voting. This week, Alphapatriot brought us another most excellent entry with Where are the Factory Jobs Going? Patriot Paradox gets the nod for best non-Council entry, with Iraq is Better Off.... [Read More]

Tracked on November 21, 2003 7:45 AM

» Council Winners from damnum absque injuria:

Time again to announce the Council winners. Congratuations to Alpha Patriot for the winning Council entry, "Where are the Factory Jobs Going?" and to Patriot Paradox for the winning non-Council entry, "Iraq is Better Off."... [Read More]

Tracked on November 21, 2003 9:13 AM

» The Council Has Spoken ! ! from e-Claire:

Where Are the Factory Jobs Going? by Alpha Patriot and, Iraq Is Better Off by Patriot Paradox Read 'em all !! Spambots: eat bits and die!! [Thanx, Watcher!]... [Read More]

Tracked on November 21, 2003 12:59 PM

» Submitted for Your Approval from Watcher of Weasels:

First off...  any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here.  Die spambots, die!  And now...  here are all the links submitted by members of the Watcher's Council for this week's vote. Council links:Hemisphe... [Read More]

Tracked on November 22, 2003 1:10 PM

» The Council Has Spoken! from Watcher of Weasels:

First off...  any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here.  Die spambots, die!  And now...  the winning entries in the Watcher's Council vote for this week are Where Are the Factory Jobs Going? by Alpha Pa... [Read More]

Tracked on November 22, 2003 1:19 PM

» The Council Has Spoken! from Watcher of Weasels:

First off...  any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here.  Die spambots, die!  And now...  the winning entries in the Watcher's Council vote for this week are The Weaseliest of Weasels by Free Will, and R... [Read More]

Tracked on November 27, 2003 10:01 PM

» WATCHER'S COUNCIL from Patterico's Pontifications:

The winners are listed here. This week goes to the patriots. Alpha Patriot has the winning Council entry, Where are the Factory Jobs Going? Patriot Paradox has the winning non-Council entry, Iraq is Better Off.... [Read More]

Tracked on February 7, 2004 2:16 PM

» Weasel Winners from Spicedsass:

A belated post linking to the November 6th results will be accepted if it also links to all entries... [Read More]

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» Weasel Winners from Spicedsass:

A belated post linking to the November 6th results will be accepted if it also links to all entries... [Read More]

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» Weasel Winners from Spicedsass:

A belated post linking to the November 6th results will be accepted if it also links to all entries... [Read More]

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» Weasel Winners from Spicedsass:

A belated post linking to the November 6th results will be accepted if it also links to all entries... [Read More]

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» Weasel Winners from Spicedsass:

A belated post linking to the November 6th results will be accepted if it also links to all entries... [Read More]

Tracked on March 9, 2004 8:28 AM