Yes, mechanization started with the wheel but the big push in terms of manufacturing employment happened during the eighties.
For example, you can make probably 2 or 3 times as many cars using less than half the people of 50 years ago.
actually the invention of the steam engine, the invention of the machine lathe and Henry Fords assembly line all were quantum leaps in terms of manufacturing employment relative to any changes that may have occurred in the eighties
and all 3 of those led to massive increases in manufacturing employment
the 1980s manufacturing employment likely increased world wide as millions in Asia started making 'things'
where things are made is quite different from how the are made
robotics ideally removes minimum wage costs for repetitive tasks from the equation, which was Asia's competitive advantage
conclusion: obtain in demand skills that apply decision making
I am just pointing out that trade is often less important than tech in terms of employment, mister opportunity.
does tech feed your family ?
does tech cloth your kids ?
does tech provide you shelter ?
no
trade does
This is something that Trump does not get.
I am not saying stop it. It is just that the transition to tech was harder for many employees compared to say the transition from farming to factories.
Turning a factory guy into a software engineer is something different.
you can not stop it
innovation and advancements is embedded in human nature
i find it odd how so many on the left lament and despise human progress
without such progress you would spend half your day hunting your next meal with a stick and a rock
Turning a factory guy into a software engineer is only limited by the the factory guys desire and attitude
if successful he is better off and more productive, a plus for society
a added bonus is software engineers tend not to strike