U.S. losing high-tech manufacturing jobs to Asia

[OhioChick]

The United States lost more than a quarter of its high-tech manufacturing jobs during the past decade as U.S.-based multinational companies placed a growing percentage of their research-and-development operations overseas, the National Science Board reported Tuesday.

The rapid expansion of science and engineering capabilities in China and its neighbors pose a more formidable economic challenge to the United States, according to the group, with Asia rapidly boosting the number of engineering doctorates it produces and research dollars it spends.

The report comes as the Obama administration is seeking to make U.S. manufacturing more competitive through engineering and innovation. In June, it announced its Advanced Manufacturing Partnership and sank $500 million into the effort.

But as the National Science Board publication shows, vast government efforts in Asia are working along similar lines. It offered abundant evidence Asia’s efforts to attract and develop engineering outfits, and not just low-wage factories, have paid off.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/us-losing-high-tech-manufacturing-jobs-to-asia/2012/01/17/gIQA9P1S6P_story.html?hpid=z4

[Occulus]

1. They NOTICED!

What an amazing discovery that must have been for them.

[HubertHeaver]

2. We didn't lose those jobs to Asia, we actively gave those jobs to Asia.

[Deep13]

6. bingo nt

[Javaman]

23. +1000 nt

[supernova]

3. No. Shit. Sherlock.

*sigh*

Better late than never I guess. But too late for those of us who nearly went bankrupt trying to have a high tech career only to go through mulitple periods of layoffs and joblessness.

Fuck them. I am setting my cap for an entirely different line of work. At 50.

[Blacksheep214]

20. It's the throwaway aspect

Things are easier replaced than repaired and usually are obsolete at 3 yrs.

I am an unemployed electronics tech in various fields since 74.

So. Cal. USED to be the epicenter for so much, but alas, no more.

Want fries with that?

[FarCenter]

4. The number of engineering doctorates isn't a very good indicator

However, between China, Japan and South Korea, they are producing vastly more associates, bachelor and master's level graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These are the backbone of design teams developing products and developing the manufacturing processes and automated equipment for the factories.

[demosincebirth]

5. This is news?

[tawadi]

27. My first thought too

My second thought? I wish it was.

[rocktivity]

7. Candidate for this year's "You Call This NEWS?" Award

The PAST decade? Shouldn't that be more like the past THREE decades?


rocktivity

[lib2DaBone]

8. Clinton gave China our Super Computer technology.. signed NAFTA...

..we gave China our latest manufacturing technology..even shipping our latest factory equipment there.

All with the blessing of our CONgress and astute leaders.

[Lasher]

9. Not to worry, the new free trade agreement with South Korea should turn all this around.

Yessir. That will create some high tech jobs. In Seoul.

[Blacksheep214]

10. High Tech Manufacturing

Can anyone define that for me?

My personal experience was in the design and manufacture of power supplies for computers and telecom. In the late 70s you would pay a dollar a watt and small switchers were more as compared to heavy, big linear supplies.

As automatic assy and pick and place machines came to be there was less assembly but the price dropped drastically.

Then the industry moved offshore and that was that. But, electronic assy is not like building a car.

There is little high tech involved in assembly as these are usually done with minimally skilled workers snapping sub assemblies together thousands of times a day.

It may be a job, but let's not get too big on the high tech aspect.

High tech engineering is something different.

Bottom line? We have to be willing to pay about 20% more for a product to be made in the USA.

I will.

[Blacksheep214]

21. Machines do the assembly

Components are too tiny for humans to place on solder pads with any speed.

We stuff connectors and other 'thru-hole' items. Not many per item.

[Blacksheep214]

25. Is that High Tech to you?

Feeding a machine?

No education required!

[bluestateboomer]

11. And we have systematically destroyed our educational system.

Our ability to do R&D will continue to decrease as the years go by.

[area51]

12. "O. administration is seeking to make U.S. manufacturing more competitive ...."

One way is to have health care a basic human right and not depend upon companies to provide health care. It's more expensive to do business here because we insist on chaining access to health care to work.

http://www.pnhp.org/facts/singlepayer_faq.php

[pampango]

13. it takes China, Japan and eight other high-growth Asian countries just to equal US research spending

Referring to the Washington Post article, the Atlantic responds:

Scary stuff. And a bit overwrought.

According to the study cited in the Post, Science and Engineering Indicators 2012, in 2009, the United States was responsible for 31% of of the world's R&D spending. That was down from 38% in 1999. As the Post dolefully notes, R&D expenditures in "China and nine other Asian countries have risen to match that of the United States." Is that so scary? Are we supposed to mourn the death of a unipolar R&D age to learn that it takes China, Japan and eight other high-growth Asian countries just to equal total research spending in the U.S.?

The picture brightens more once you look at US R&D growth independently. From 2004 to 2009, it grew from $302 billion up to more than $400 billion. Even after the recession, investment (at least, non-residential investment) in the United States has been anything but moribund.

Some American corporations have moved their highly technical design and engineering work to manufacturing centers in Asia, particularly China. But that shift hasn't been dramatic. In 1999, U.S.-based multinationals spent 87.4% of their R&D budgets, about $126 billion, domestically. In 2009, they spent 84.3% of their budgets here, or roughly $199 billion. We're taking a similar slice of a much bigger pie.

In the end, the U.S. still has the world's most robust set of high-tech manufacturing industries, which according to the NSB include pharmaceuticals, communications equipment, computers, aircraft and spacecraft, scientific and measuring equipment, and semiconductors. ... Should we be on guard? Yes. We need to keep investing in education and research to maintain our place in the world of discovery and technology. But, despite some dour headlines, we're still here.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/01/american-innovation-nope-not-dead-yet/251598/

As the Atlantic points out the total R&D of 9 Asian countries (with about 3 billion people) now equals that of the US (with 1/10 the population). Ahh, for the good ol' days of a "unipolar R&D age".

[exboyfil]

15. At our state universities they are charging

$2K/yr more in tuition for Engineering students. Seems like they should be encouraging more engineers especially ones who are U.S. citizens.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

16. That same story was in the Wall Street Urinal (Journal) the other day.

Oddly they seemed just fine with it.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

17. This is late breaking news?

The only part that's late-breaking is the National Science Board pulling their collective heads out of their asses and looking around.

I didn't see any quotes from Dr. Rip Van Winkle, but maybe he just manages the show.

[fasttense]

18. When you ship the factory work and the production jobs out, R&D follows.

[DocMac]

19. This is becoming a National Security issue. nt

[Blacksheep214]

22. It's the automation

coupled with the overpopulation!

Senior care will be the growth industry.

[sarcasmo]

28. Guess they are finally waking up to what we have known all along.