U.S. Robotics Industry Sees Double-Digit Growth

“The United States is back on track for growth,” says Takayuki Ito, president of the International Federation of Robotics. “While the automotive industry posted its third-best result in seven years, the data also shows rising demand for flexible automation in the food industry: In this sector, installation figures rose by 30%, putting it on par with the metal and machinery manufacturing and electronics industries. These sectors are all projected to record around 3,000 installations each in 2025.”

The level of automation in the U.S., as measured by robot density, stands at 307 units per 10,000 manufacturing workers. This ranks the United States eighth globally, two spots higher than the previous year. With this result, the country trails more highly automated nations such as South Korea (1,220 robots), Germany (449 robots), and Japan (446 robots), but ranks ahead of China (166 robots).

However, China significantly outpaces the rest of the world in terms of market size: 295,000 industrial robots were installed in China in 2024, representing a 54% global market share. Preliminary results for 2025 are not yet available for China, but according to IFR estimates, installations are likely to be about ten times higher than in the United States. This success story is based on the country’s national robotics strategy, which was launched ten years ago. China’s recently published 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) now even places robotics at the center of its industrial strategy. The goal is to focus AI research on physical applications, with robots serving as the main driver of economic growth.

National Robotics Strategy

A3, North America’s largest association for the automation industry, has now officially published its “Vision for a National Robotics Strategy” and presented it to legislative bodies. The association is thus advocating for the creation of a federal office for robotics and a national commission to coordinate the strategy. The goal is to harmonize government research and promote public-private partnerships. The paper also calls for market-oriented tax incentives, an expansion of retraining programs for skilled workers, updated safety standards, and a nationwide requirement to purchase domestic robotics technology in order to accelerate commercial adoption.

Outlook

The outlook for industrial modernization in North America and the United States remains extremely positive. This is due to the increasing reshoring of production facilities and the ongoing shortage of skilled workers. The IFR forecasts stable, long-term growth for the region’s automation sector, as manufacturers increase their investments in automation to offset structural labor shortages. In addition, demand is diversifying beyond traditional sectors.