Study Puts Indiana Automation Risk at 47.57%
A CJS Automation study finds nearly half of Indiana jobs face replacement by automation, ranking the state third-highest nationally.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Manufacturing
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CJS Automation released a study estimating 47.57% of Indiana jobs are at risk of automation replacement, placing the state third-highest in the nation. The findings come as Amazon announced a robotics manufacturing plant in Greenwood projected to bring 300 jobs.
Why it matters
The estimate suggests roughly 1.4 million Indiana jobs could be affected, with the greatest exposure in manufacturing and sectors built around single repetitive tasks. Indiana's concentration of manufacturing work makes the state's workforce particularly sensitive to automation trends.
The study's 47.57% figure draws on Bureau of Labor Statistics data and a 2013 Oxford University probability study, placing Indiana third-highest nationally. Indiana has more than 20,000 open manufacturing jobs, even as roughly 1.4 million state jobs are estimated to be at risk.
The players
CJS Automation
CJS Automation is the firm that released the study estimating automation risk across Indiana's workforce.
Amazon
Amazon is the global e-commerce and cloud company that announced the Greenwood robotics manufacturing plant.
The details
CJS Automation's study estimates that roughly 47.57% of Indiana jobs are vulnerable to replacement, with the most exposed roles concentrated in manufacturing and repetitive-task sectors. Separately, Amazon announced in September a robotics manufacturing plant in Indiana that is projected to bring 300 jobs to the Greenwood area.
Timeline
- 2013: Oxford University probability study on automation risk published, used as a basis for the estimates.
- September: Amazon announces its Indiana robotics manufacturing plant.
- November 6, 2026: CJS Automation study on Indiana automation job risk published.
Market Landscape
The study builds on the 2013 Frey and Osborne probability study that first ranked occupations by their susceptibility to computerization. Applying that framework to current Indiana data suggests the automation pressure identified a decade ago has grown more concentrated in the state's manufacturing base.
Workers in manufacturing and repetitive-task roles in Indiana face the most direct exposure to automation. Job seekers in these fields may find that retraining or skills in maintaining robotic systems becomes increasingly relevant.
The takeaway
Automation risk is highest where routine, repetitive work is most common, so workers should watch for changes in their own job tasks. Building skills in equipment operation and maintenance can help offset that exposure.
Further reading
For more on how automation is reshaping production lines, see Manufacturing coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Star Local.
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