Actually, I said "either automation or labor"...but *intentionally* didn't
use the term "labor in the US". The idea of non-US labor could blow my
theory out of the water. However, ramping up labor overseas requires a
pretty large initial capital investment and doesn't happen overnight. It's
much easier and cheaper in the shortrun to hire domestically in existing
plants.


Did you notice what segments *had* an increase in the employment numbers? I
know that healthcare was one of 'em.

It's time to face facts that if you're in manufacturing, you'll either be
earning less, or have no job at all in the foreseeable future...as long as
we don't impose large tariffs on imports. The problem with tariffs is that
they increase the cost of goods at a rate that's much larger than the
increase in employee income...and high inflation begins to rear its ugly
head.





"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
I'm pretty sure imports don't affect the productivity numbers. Those
statistics are talking about *American* productivity.

You are most likely right. My comments were in response to the suggestion
that
American companies seeking further increases in productivity will now need
to
invest in either automation or labor in the US.