False assumption.
Automation is not a panacea.
The high investment cost of automating domestic manufacturing is undermined by imports in many ways.
The cost of automation is much, much lower than you think. I am in this industry and understand the cost/benefit studies showing how clearly factory automation is far, far more cost-effective than moving offshore.
In many instances, lower cost technology implemented offshore can match quality requirements.
This is not true since the skill of offshore labor is very, very low and training is costly. Quality cannot be obtained easily.
Automated technology can also be used offshore, undercutting the cost of skilled technicians, maintenance and support personnel required to operate it domesticly.
Yes, automation can be used offshore, but the only reason a company would do that is due to burdensome regulations, taxes and workforce we have in the US
In both of the above instances, additional investment in support technology necessary for safety and/or environmental compliance is unnecessary.
The safety record of manufacturing sites overseas is very high. The problem is that our safety and environmental laws are overly burdensome or outdated and inflict costs on industry that are unnecessary.
If you are in the industry, you then understand that a large number of manufacturers are deferring the investment in automation and simply going for the cheap labor overseas.
BTW, there are no "unskilled jobs" anymore, at least not in a well-run plant.
The canard about 'nuts onto bolts' is just that; more often the assembler has a multitude of tasks which INCLUDE 'nuts/bolts,' and, far more important, include QC exams.
Multi-tasking is the operative these days--but you knew that already, right??