The state of US manufacturing in one easy chart...The Blue Collar Blues just keep getting bluer...

The state of US manufacturing in one easy chart...Productivity (output per labor hour) soaring but employment in that sector falling dramatically. However, it appears to have bottomed out (right side of chart).  The use of technology in the workplace has eliminated a lot of these jobs.  Many of the jobs are performed by skilled workers with advanced education.  The traditional blue collar "works down at the plant" job is rapidly disappearing.  Another source of inequality. 

Source: The Big Picture