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AI ≠ Pink Slips: Why Automation Is Hiring, Not Firing

It’s easy to get caught up in the fear that AI is coming for our jobs. But at Targun, we’re seeing something very different in real time—especially in the manufacturing and industrial space.

Companies using AI-native tools aren’t shrinking their teams—they’re growing. They’re unlocking new capacity, launching product lines faster, and creating jobs that didn’t exist a few years ago.

Here’s what we’re seeing:

1 :: ROI, Not Redundancy, Drives Decisions

When one engineer equipped with AI can ship 15 times more code, that’s not a layoff trigger—it’s a reason to hire more engineers. The productivity unlock changes what’s possible, and companies respond accordingly.

2 :: Automation Creates New Kinds of Work

Think prompt engineers, model auditors, synthetic data designers. Or roles we’re seeing on the ground:

  • Data stewards
  • Continuous improvement leads
  • Citizen developers

These aren’t replacements—they’re net new.

3 :: Deflation Is a Feature, Not a Flaw

As automation drives down costs, it boosts margins and expands the market. That growth fuels new businesses, new jobs, and new opportunities.

4 :: Jobs Evolve—Tasks Disappear

AI may eliminate certain repetitive tasks, but rarely entire roles. When freight gets cheaper, for example, long-haul driving might shift—but dispatching, maintenance, and customer support expand.

5 :: Entry-Level Jobs Are Changing, Not Vanishing

AI is handling the grunt work. Junior hires today are stepping into higher-order problems earlier, supported by mentorship focused on judgment, not just keystrokes.

6 :: For Mid-Market Manufacturers (Our Sweet Spot), This Is Already Happening
  • Change-over labor has dropped by 25%
  • Teams are running more shifts with less overhead
  • Quality control is shifting from clipboards to root cause analysis
  • Lean teams are launching full product lines

And all of this growth is creating jobs—not eliminating them.

7 :: The Bigger Risk Is Doing Nothing

Companies clinging to legacy systems and bolt-on automation are falling behind. AI-native competitors are scooping up the talent, the customers, and the margin.

8 :: How to Future-Proof Your Workforce
  • Upskill instead of downsizing
  • Pair experienced leaders with AI-fluent junior staff
  • Let systems automate the output, while your people focus on outcomes
  • Measure value per employee, not tasks per person

Final Thought

The industrial revolution didn’t eliminate work—it changed it. AI is no different. Companies that embrace this shift as a multiplier, not a threat, will be the ones hiring, scaling, and thriving in the decade ahead.

TARGUN