The Impact of 3D Printing in the World Labor Market

This issue was taken from an article written for a local newspaper.

The beginning of 3D Printing could lead to loss of many jobs in the manufacturing sector but it could also lead to the creation of new opportunities for work, according to an International Labor Organization (ILO) engineering specialist.

ILO mechanical and electrical engineering specialist, David Seligson claimed that more companies have begun using the new technology to produce samples since it is cheaper than paying for manpower services.

“Today prototyping makes up 95 percent of the market for 3D Printing, allowing engineers to make and test components or parts for vehicles, aircraft and so on without having to retool factories or wait for components to arrive,” Seligson said.

He also claimed that this trend could pave the way towards the mass movement of workers due to smaller but competent 3D Printing factories.

“3D printers will eliminate the need for assembly, requiring fewer raw materials and shorter supply chains,” Seligson said.

“Factories won’t need physical inventories anymore, because they’ll be able to print products on demand. It will even be possible to scan and print replicas, just like you would a computer file,” he said.

Seligson said that ILO and other labor supporter groups should begin considering retraining workers, who will be affected to adapt to new jobs which will be created by the 3D Printing upheaval.

These alternative jobs include specialists in raw materials used in a printer, or as inspectors of defects in electronic blueprints. “Just like the Industrial Revolution, 3D Printing may destroy jobs, but it will also create new ones.

And because 3D Printing is likely to require fewer raw materials and create less waste, they will probably be greener,” Seligson said.