Opinion

Labor-market policies speed automation, reducing jobs

Trump immigration path hurts manufacturing-employment growth

Robert Krol

Submitted photo/InsideSources

OPINION — Labor-market policies that restrict immigration or increase the minimum wage can increase automation.

On the plus side, automation reduces production costs, making goods more affordable and benefiting consumers. It creates jobs in the economy.

In the short run, however, automation also eliminates some jobs, resulting in difficult adjustments for the displaced workers.

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