‘They don’t need people’: The workers left behind by China’s robot drive
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Workers gathering at Zhenchuan Good Samaritan Park in Kunshan, the heart of China’s electronics manufacturing industry, in search of daily gigs.
PHOTO: VIVIAN WANG/NYTIMES
Vivian Wang
- China’s shift to advanced technology and automation has led to widespread job losses for low-skilled workers in manufacturing hubs like Kunshan.
- Many displaced workers turn to gig and daily jobs with low pay and little opportunity for skill development.
- The rise of robots has transformed factories, leaving workers anxious about their future and struggling to adapt to new roles.
AI generated
KUNSHAN, China – The park was in the centre of China’s richest county. Willow trees clustered around a well-manicured pond. Joggers in performance gear circled shiny new playgrounds filled with children.
But in a quieter part of the park, Hu Xinbing was resting after another day of trying, unsuccessfully, to win his share of the local prosperity. After failing to find a job that morning, the 31-year-old lay behind some bushes, using a windbreaker as a pillow, and waited until he could try again the next day.
