The effects of automation on employment: Case studies in Mexico's apparel and footwear sectors

This article is part of a research project on the effects of automation in the apparel and footwear sectors and their gender dimensions, under the umbrella of Building Partnerships on the World of Work,1 funded by the European Union and implemented jointly with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the European Commission Joint Research Center (EC-JRC). The main goal of this project is to improve our understanding of how processes of technological upgrading, particularly automation, interact with local social structures and institutional systems in the apparel and footwear industries to affect women's and men's employment. To this end, in-depth case studies based on interviews with employers and workers in selected manufacturing plants were conducted in five countries: Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Romania, and Spain. This article presents findings from the research on the apparel and footwear sector in Mexico. It first presents the project's background and motivation, including a snapshot of the industry in Mexico, and briefly outlines the research design. It then discusses interview findings. A summary discussion, policy recommendations, and conclusion follow.