South Korea boasts a robot density of 1,102 robots per 10,000 employees, surpassing Singapore
South Korea has made a historic mark as the world’s first country to replace over 10% of its workforce with robots, at least according to the World Robotics 2024 report. The country boasts an unmatched robot density of 1,102 robots per 10,000 employees, far above Singapore’s 770 robots per 10,000 workers.
Addressing Workforce Challenges
The South Korean robotics evolution is to address the challenges of a shrinking working-age population due to persistently low birth rates. The South Korean government has invested heavily in the robotics industry, recently releasing its ‘Fourth Intelligent Robot Basic Plan’ to deal with labor shortage issues.
The $2.4 billion plan targets the public and private sectors toward robotics development. South Korean robot workers will be deployed in various industries, from manufacturing to health, agriculture, and logistics, by 2030.
Unprecedented Growth in Workforce Automation
South Korea’s Robot density has been growing steadily at an average rate of 5% per year since 2018. Globally, the average robot density has more than doubled in the last seven years, increasing from 74 to 162 robots per 10,000 employees.
South Korea has a strong presence in electronics and automotive manufacturing, two of the largest customers for industrial robots. Thus, the country’s economy is well-positioned to benefit from this technological shift.
Global Robotics Leadership
South Korea’s leadership in robotics is a testament to its commitment to using technology for economic sustainability. The country has surpassed other leading markets, such as China and Japan, in robot integration even as these nations continue to expand their automation capabilities.
- China: Added 276,288 robots in 2023, which was 51% of global installations.
- Japan: 46,106 new installations were added in 2023.
- India: Growth is extremely fast, with the installations having increased by 59% to 8,510 units in 2023
Expanding Beyond Manufacturing
South Korean robots are no longer restricted to factories. They can be found in hospitals caring for patients, restaurants for food service, and logistics operations. According to the International Trade Administration, the country plans to increase the domestic manufacturing rate of core robot parts from 44% to 80% by 2030.
South Korean robot workers’ successful integration into the economy is a model for other countries facing similar demographic challenges. The shift does raise concerns about job displacement. However, it also offers opportunities for innovation and job creation in technology-driven fields.
South Korea’s advancements underscore the potential for robotics to address labor shortages while enhancing productivity and efficiency.
