My sense is that globalization drives this more than automation. The idea of cheap labor is what drives globalization, and automation is only an issue if the automation process is guaranteed to replace a human with a cost savings. So, it might not be as enticing a direction as some observers might think in some areas.
actually, globalization is driven by competition.
the competition is driven by enormous change in communications and transportation and ease of money flow
“My sense is that globalization drives this more than automation”
I toured an automobile plant here in the U.S. a few years ago. It was amazing how few workers were required to build the vehicles and how quiet the main assembly line was.