Northeast Ohio grudgingly said goodbye to traditional jobs and prepares to adapt to the future of manufacturing, starting with 3D printers.
Tens of thousands of steel and automobile manufacturing jobs have disappeared from the Youngstown, Ohio region. But local leaders hope that a new wave of industry can revitalize the area, reports CNN Business. Specifically, academics are collaborating with industry to create a flexible manufacturing base that can quickly adapt to consumers’ changing needs. Entrepreneurs and startups will build on the region’s manufacturing savvy to create new industries. And they’re starting with enormous 3D printing plants.
Jobs in the manufacturing industry will return, but they won’t be the same. In fact, a small number of educated workers will replace thousands of middle-class jobs once held by locals with high school diplomas. Furthermore, robots with artificial intelligence, not humans, will complete many of the manufacturing tasks.