According to the Association for Advancing Automation, industrial users have hired a record number of robots, with 29,000 units valued at $1.48 billion, marking a 37% increase from the previous year. This surge in robot hiring has surpassed the peak reached in 2017, indicating a growing reliance on automation across various sectors.

With the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic prompting efforts to reemploy laid-off workers, many businesses are turning to robots as a viable alternative to human labor. Jeff Bernstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, notes that the shortage of skilled workers has propelled the adoption of automation in industries struggling to fill vacancies.

The hiring of robots extends beyond traditional purchasing models, with companies opting to "hire a robot" as part of their workforce. This trend encompasses a wide range of industries, with industrial robots increasingly deployed in sectors beyond automotive manufacturing.

While automotive companies have historically been major purchasers of industrial robots, orders from non-automotive sectors have surpassed those from the auto industry for the first time in 2020. This trend has continued into 2021, with a significant increase in orders for robots across industries such as metallurgy and food manufacturing.

As Bernstein explains, the growth in robot adoption reflects not only the expansion of industries like automotive but also the rapid acceleration of automation in sectors experiencing even greater growth rates. This paradigm shift underscores the pivotal role of industrial robots in driving productivity and efficiency across diverse economic sectors.