Struggling to meet the demands of its customer base, Batesville Tool & Die embarked on a mission to hire 70 individuals last year. However, this endeavor proved to be quite challenging. Convincing factory workers to relocate to a small community of 7,300 nestled in the Indiana countryside was no easy feat, especially when competing against prominent manufacturers like Honda and Cummins Engine located nearby.
The pool of job seekers was disappointingly shallow. “You could count on one hand how many people in the town were unemployed,” remarked Jody Fledderman, the CEO. “It was just crazy.”
Ultimately, Batesville Tool & Die managed to fill only 40 of its vacant positions.
Enter automation. The company made significant investments in machinery capable of emulating human labor and implemented vision systems to enhance the robots’ operational capabilities.
The scenario witnessed at Batesville has been a recurring theme across the United States in recent years. Persistent labor shortages have prompted numerous companies to turn to automation to compensate for the shortfall in available workers.
Robots Boost Productivity and Worker Satisfaction: Unraveling the Surprising Strength of the US Economy (Credits: INC Magazine)
Moreover, these companies have also focused on upskilling their existing workforce to effectively utilize advanced technologies, thereby achieving higher productivity with fewer personnel.
The outcome has been an unforeseen surge in productivity, providing a plausible explanation for a notable economic paradox: How has the largest economy in the world managed to sustain robust growth and low unemployment despite facing historically high-interest rates aimed at curbing inflation, a situation that typically precipitates a recession?
Economists view robust productivity growth as a potent remedy. When companies integrate more efficient machinery or technology, their workforce becomes more productive, leading to increased output per hour. Consequently, companies can enhance profits and elevate wages for employees without necessitating price hikes, thereby keeping inflation in check.
Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, likened the soaring productivity to “magic beans” for the economy, enabling accelerated income and wage growth as well as GDP expansion without stoking inflation.
Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, drew parallels to the late 1990s, a period marked by a productivity surge fueled by the widespread adoption of laptops, cell phones, and the internet. This surge enabled the Federal Reserve to maintain low borrowing rates while containing inflation despite a booming economy and labor market.
In contrast to the prevailing pessimism a year ago, when economists widely predicted an impending recession, the Federal Reserve’s aggressive series of rate hikes, totaling 11 since March 2022, has managed to rein in inflation from a four-decade high of 9.1% to 3.1%, with minimal adverse effects on the economy.
Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, expressed astonishment at this outcome, remarking, “I would have said it’s not possible. But that’s exactly what happened.”
A year ago, nearly every economist foresaw an imminent recession. However, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell struck a more optimistic tone last month, noting the resilience of the labor market and the downward trajectory of inflation.
While emphasizing the need for further progress in curbing inflation, the Fed remains confident in its forecast that inflation will converge towards its 2% target, refraining from rate hikes since July and signaling potential rate cuts in the coming year.
