The Fall of High-Paying Manufacturing Jobs: Was It Globalization or Technology?

Manufacturing was a pillar of economic prosperity in the mid-twentieth century, providing millions with constant, high-paying jobs and a clear path to the middle class. Fast-forward to the present, and that once-thriving industry has little relation to its past glory. Communities founded around manufacturers are now dealing with economic stagnation. What caused this seismic shift? Was it globalization that exported jobs abroad, or technology that quietly replaced human labor? The truth, as research and real-world tales show, is in the intense clash of these forces—and knowing them is critical for navigating the future of work. The Golden Age of Manufacturing: A Snapshot of the Past Between the 1940s and 1970s, manufacturing wasn’t just an industry—it was a way of life . Workers without college degrees could support families, buy homes, and dream bigger. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturing employment peaked in 1979 with around 19.5 million jobs . Manu...