AMT principal economist Chris Chidzik spoke at IMTS in Chicago. Demand for automation is off the charts in manufacturing. A labor shortage of 400,000 to 500,000 open jobs drives this demand. Manufacturers plan to more than double advanced tech adoption by 2030. A PwC survey of 443 executives found current adoption at 26%. AI is also driving major demand for power transmission equipment. Orders for such equipment are 35% above their long-run average. The data center boom is the primary cause of this surge. U.S. factories lag in automation compared to China and Japan. Chidzik noted that 80% of U.S. factories have zero automation. He argued that automation adoption is undercounted due to changing standards. Automation has not reduced manufacturing employment as feared. Misconceptions about manufacturing careers limit labor supply.

• 400,000 to 500,000 open manufacturing jobs in the U.S.
• 26% to 68% adoption of advanced tech by 2030
• 35% above long-run average for power transmission orders
• 80% of U.S. factories have zero automation