Trump e il mito del lavoro che comunque non ritornerà

The Illusion of Manufacturing Job Returns

This article examines the unlikelihood of restoring American manufacturing jobs, a central promise in Trump's 2016 campaign and a key tenet of the MAGA movement. It argues that this promise, while resonating with voters concerned about globalization's impact, ignores significant factors.

Underlying Factors

• Automation and Digitization: Automation and technological advancements have significantly reduced manufacturing jobs, irrespective of delocalization.
• Demographic Shifts: The US has experienced a decline in its younger workforce, impacting labor supply and contributing to a shift towards service-sector employment.
• Skill Gaps: Decades of change have resulted in a lack of necessary technical skills among the workforce, demanding substantial retraining efforts.

The article counters the simplistic narrative that globalization alone caused job losses, highlighting the complexity of the issue and the long-term trends making a return to pre-globalization employment levels highly improbable.

Political Implications

Despite these realities, the author suggests that the persuasive power of Trump's narrative continues to overshadow these complex factors. The piece concludes by questioning the true aims of Trump's protectionist policies, emphasizing the challenges of developing a viable alternative model that addresses both economic and social concerns.