Automation has done that.
I worked in a steel mill in Pittsburgh, you know, the college kid that gets to sweep the floors. At that time we had appx. 21,000 working three shifts.
Today at the Mittell, Steelton, PA plant they out produce us 10-1 with 3,000 employees.
I hear you. We used to have a steel plant among other plants here in South San Francisco. Now all the steel going into rebuilding our SF Bay bridges is being imported from China.