“The New Model Is Factory Jobs for Life—for You, Your Kids, and Your Grandkids,” Says U.S. Commerce Secretary

“The New Model Is Factory Jobs for Life—for You, Your Kids, and Your Grandkids,” Says U.S. Commerce Secretary

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick is advocating for a seismic shift in the American workforce. In a recent Fortune interview, Lutnick stated, “The new model is factory jobs for life—for you, your kids, and your grandkids,” positioning high-tech manufacturing as a long-term solution for economic growth and job stability (Fortune, 2025).

Unlike traditional factory jobs of the past, Lutnick emphasized that today’s manufacturing roles are centered around automation—specifically maintaining and repairing robotic systems. These positions often require only a high school diploma and technical training, yet they offer starting salaries between $80,000 and $90,000 (Business Insider, 2025).

This workforce vision is closely tied to former President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade policies, including tariffs aimed at reshoring manufacturing. According to Lutnick, these policies are already creating incentives for U.S. companies to bring production back home, with recent efforts to ease tariff impacts on American automakers through targeted exemptions (MarketWatch, 2025).

Lutnick’s call targets Gen Z in particular, a generation grappling with rising college costs, student debt, and skepticism about the return on traditional higher education. He argues that trade work offers not only stability but also dignity and financial security—an echo of the mid-20th-century manufacturing boom that built the American middle class.

Still, not all experts are convinced. Labor economists warn that automation may reduce long-term job numbers rather than expand them. Others point to a lack of robust vocational education and apprenticeship infrastructure, which could limit how many Americans can realistically access these opportunities (Washington Post, 2025).

While the vision is bold, its success depends on significant investment in training, education, and regional economic planning. Whether America can revive a blue-collar economy in the age of robotics remains to be seen—but Lutnick’s message is clear: the future might be built with machines, but it will be maintained by people.