Automotive Industry Workers

Employment in the manufacturing sector is forecast to decline by 0.9 percent from 2022 through 2032, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. (The average growth for all sectors is 3 percent through 2032.) Advancements in robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and manufacturing processes and tools are expected to have a negative impact on job growth.

Nevertheless, there should be job openings as automotive industry workers reach retirement age in the next several years. Additionally, many American autoworkers are continuing to find good opportunities at foreign-owned manufacturing plants that have been built in the United States. Today, many U.S. automotive workers are employed by foreign-owned automakers such as Honda and Mitsubishi.

Workers with, at least, two-year degrees (or who have completed an apprenticeship) and who have a wide range of skills and knowledge, such as in hydraulics, electrical systems, welding, computer-aided design (CAD), robotic, and hybrid technologies, will have the best employment prospects.

However, employment may once again decline if the economy weakens and American manufacturers continue to move operations overseas, where unions are weak and labor is cheaper. Additionally, high-technology production techniques have made workers more productive and reduced the number of workers needed for some manufacturing processes, but also increased demand for automobile production workers with training and experience working with advanced manufacturing instruments with computer numerical control (CNC) instruments and other types of software-controlled tools. Expect this trend to continue during the next decade.