How the U.S. lost out on iPhone work
Transcription
How the U.S. lost out on iPhone work
An Empire Built Abroad heydays. heydays. notmillion nearly as heydays. avid in creating Nxxx,2012-01-22,A,001,Bs-BK,E3 Almost ofall the wereAlmost inall their of 70themillion Almost all70ofmillion the 70 in America. Today, few are. mous companies Apple employs 43,000 peoAmerican jobs as other fa- peoApple employs 43,000 iPhones, 30 million iPads and Apple employs 43,000 iPhones, 30 million30 iPads andiPads and iPhones, million Almost all of the 70 million heydays. ple in the United States and mous companies were in their ple in the United States and 59 million other products Apple in the United States in America. Today, few are. 59 million other products ApApple employs 43,000 peo59 million other products ApiPhones, 30 million iPads and 20,000 overseas, a Late small frac- fracheydays. 20,000 overseas, aEdition small ple sold last year manuAlmost all ofwere the 70 million 20,000 overseas, a small ple sold last year were manuple in the United States and ple sold last year were manu59 million other products ApApple employs 43,000 peotion of the of over 400,000 AmeriToday, clouds and sunshine, high the over 400,000 AmeriiPhones, 30 million iPads and factured overseas. tion of the over 400,000 Am VOL. CLXI . . No. 55,658 © 2012 Thetion New York Times NEW YOR factured overseas. 20,000 overseas, a small fracfactured overseas. ple sold last year were manu37. Tonight, cloudy, a bit of drizzle, pleworkers in New the United States and VOL. CLXI .million . No.that 55,658 © 2012 The York Times NEW YO can at General Mo59 other products Apcan workers at General Mocan workers at General Why can’t work come especially late, low 35. Tomorrow, of the over 400,000 AmeriWhy can’t that work come VOL. CLXItion . . No. 55,658 © 2012 The New York Timesthat NEW YORK, SUNDAY, JAN Why can’t work come factured overseas. 20,000 overseas, a small fracintors the or hunpleMr. sold last year were manu-tors raintors arriving, patchy fog, high 51. or the VOL. CLXI . . No. 55,658 © 2012 The New York Times NEW YORK, SUNDAY, JANUARY 2012 in1950s, the 1950s, or22, the huninthe the 1950s, Obama asked. New General Mohome? Mr. Obama asked. home? Mr. Obama asked. Details, SportsSunday, Page 12. tion of the over 400,000 AmeriWhy can’t that work come can workers athome? factured overseas. dredsdreds of thousands atof General of thousands at Generalat Gen dreds thousands Mr. Jobs’s reply was unamtors in the 1950s, or the hunMr. Jobs’s reply was unamMr. Jobs’s reply was unamcan workers at General MoVOL. Mr. CLXI . . No. 55,658 © 2012 The New York Times NEWGingrich YORK, SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012 home? Obama asked. Newt addressed supporters after winniM Why can’t that come Electric in thein 1980s. Many Electric thearea. the 1980s. Many Electric inhunthe 1980s. biguous. “Those jobswork aren’t of thousands athome? General biguous. “Those jobs aren’t tors in New theYork1950s, VOL. CLXI . . No. 55,658 2012 The New York Times NEW YORK, SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012 $6 jobs beyond the greater metropolitanor $5.00 biguous. “Those aren’t Mr. Jobs’s©reply was unam- dreds Mr. Obama asked. more people work for Apple’s more people work for Apple’s more people work forNew Ap back,” he said, 1980s. Many dreds of thousands at General coming back,” heaccordsaid, accordcoming back,” he said, accordMr. Jobs’s reply was unambiguous. “Those jobs aren’t Electric in thecoming contractors: an additional contractors: an additional contractors: an addit ing to another dinner guest. Electric in the 1980s. Many more people work for Apple’s ing to another dinner guest. ing to another dinner guest. biguous. “Those jobs aren’t700,000 people engineer, build coming back,” he said, accordNEWS A 700,000 engineer, build 700,000 people peoplepeople work for Apple’sengineer, president’s contractors: an The additional The president’s questionmore coming back,” he question said, accordThe president’s question ing to another dinner guest. andcontractors: assemble iPads, iPhones and assemble iPads, iPhones an additional and assemble iPads, iPh touched upon a central con700,000 people engineer, build touched upon a central ing to another dinner guest.acontouched upon central con- other products. The president’s question and Apple’s 700,000 people engineer, build and Apple’s other products. and Apple’s other prod viction at Apple. It isn’t just and assemble iPads, iPhones The president’s question viction at Apple. It isn’t just viction at Apple. But It isn’t justnone of them work touched upon a central conalmost and assemble iPads, iPhones But almost none of them But almost nonework of them w that products. workers area workers cheaper touched upon central conthat workers are cheaper that are cheaper viction at Apple. It isn’t just and Apple’s other and Apple’s other products. in the United States. Instead, in the United States. Instead, in the United States. Ins viction at Apple. It isn’t just abroad. Rather, Apple’s execworkersBut have so none outpaced By CHARLES DUHIGG almost of them workRather, abroad. Apple’s Apple’s Experience Shows abroad. Rather,execApple’s execthat workers are cheaper Butwork almost of foreign them work they fornone foreign compaApple’s Experience Shows they work for compathat workers are cheaper they work for foreign com Apple’s Experience Shows utives believe the vast scale of their American counterparts in the United States. Instead, and KEITH BRADSHER utives believe the vast scale ofin scale utives believe the nies vast of Shows abroad. Rather, Apple’s exec- Apple’s Experience Primary the United States. Instead, in Asia, elseabroad. Rather, Apple’s execnies in Europe Asia, Europe and else-Res nies inand Asia, Europe and Why Jobs Are Flowing to China Apple’s Experience Shows overseas factories as well as that “Made in the U.S.A.” is no they work for foreign compaWhy Jobs Are Flowing to China overseas factories as well as overseas factories as well as they work for foreignthat compaCH believe the vast scale of Byof JEFF ZELENY Why Jobs Are Flowing to China Whenutives Barack Obama joined where, at factories alutives believe the vast scale atwhere, factories that REPORTING al- tha at factories PERCENT the flexibility, diligence and diligence longer a viable option for Why Jobs Are Flowing to China nies in Asia, Europe and the elseflexibility, diligence andnieswhere, the flexibility, inand Asia, Europe and elseworkers have so as outpaced BySilicon CHARLES DUHIGG Mitt overseas factories well as Apple’s Experience Shows Valley’s top luminaries overseas factories as well as Why Jobs Are Flowing to China workers have Continued so By CHARLES S.C.outpaced — For industrial skills of CHARLESTON, foreign their American counterparts on Page 20 CH and KEITH BRADSHER most Apple products. where, at factories that DUHIGG al-DUHIGG industrial skills of workers foreign onthat Page 20 where, at factories industrial skills foreign Continued on Page 20 have soContinued outpaced By CHARLES prim the in flexibility, NewtalGingrich the flexibility, diligence and of for dinner California that “Made indiligence the last U.S.A.” is no and their American counterparts and KEITH BRADSHER Mitt Romney, the South Carolina When Barack Obama joined workers have so outpaced By CHARLES DUHIGG Mitt Apple has become one of their American counterparts longer a viable option for and KEITH BRADSHER Why Jobs Are Flowing to China By CHARLES DUHIGG and KEITH BRADSHER thou industrial skills of foreign Continued on Page 20 industrial skills of foreign Continued on Page 20 SiliconFebruary, Valley’s top luminaries that “Made in the U.S.A.” is no workers have so outpaced By CHARLES DUHIGG eachmostguest was their American counterparts Mitt Romneyprim Apple products. KEITH BRADSHER primary was not in just aU.S.A.” defeat,is no When Barack Obama joined that “Made the theandtheir best-known, adfor dinner in California last longer a viable option for American most counterparts that. Apple become one of andwith KEITH BRADSHER When Barack Obama asked come a has question that “Made in thejoined U.S.A.” islonger nowas February, each to guest was thoug Silicon Valley’s top luminaries though it most emphatically a viable option for the best-known, most adRick Santorum When Barack Obama mired and most workers have so comoutpaced By CHARLES DUHIGG mostfor Apple products. that “Made inimitated thejoined U.S.A.” islonger no asked to come with a question Silicon Valley’s luminaries paig hen Barack joined Silicon atopviable option mired and most imitatedObama comfor the president. that. When Barack Obama joined for dinner in California last most Apple products. that. ItApple was also where his for the president. Silicon Valley’s luminaries their American counterparts and KEITH BRADSHER panies on atop earth, in part longer viable option for in has become onecamof panies on earth, in part for dinner California last Ron Paul most Apple products. had But as Steven Jobs of ApSilicon Valley’s each guest was paign But P.as Steven P. Jobs ofluminaries ApApple hasthe become one Valley’s top luminaries for dinner in through an top unrelenting masfor dinnerthat in “Made California last paign confronted prospect inFebruary, the U.S.A.” is no Apple products. best-known, most ad- itof through unrelenting masFebruary, eachhas guest wasthe ple spoke, President Obama When Barack Obama joinedmostan Apple become onethe of nantm tery of global operations. Last for dinner in California last asked to come with a question had Herman Cain best-known, most adple with spoke, President Obama February, each wasoption longer aguest viable for with a question interrupted an inquiry of year, it earned most hoped toimitated avoid: a domimired most comhas become one of to come California last February, each guest over tery of Apple global operations. Last the best-known, had most ad-and Valley’s top $400,000 luminaries each guest was for asked the president. his own: what would itFebruary, takeSilicon to in profit val. mired and most imitated comnant, most Apple products. asked to come with a question per employee, more interrupted with an inquiry of panies on and earth, in part the best-known, most ad- and most imitated nant, surging energized rifor the president. make iPhones in theasked United mired comfor to dinner in Sachs, California last year, it earned overbecome $400,000 than Goldman Exxon come with awith question But ascomSteven of Ap- through paniesan on earth, in part was asked to come athe question for the val.Th for president. Apple hasimitated one ofP. Jobs States?his own: what would unrelenting masmired and most it take to But as Steven P. Jobs of ApMobil or Google. panies on Obama earth,val. in part February, each guestin was profit peron employee, more the president. ple spoke, President through an unrelenting masNot long ago, Apple for boasted the support he is Th the best-known, adSteven P. Jobs of ple Apwhat has vexed But as notio tery of global Last panies earth, inmost part spoke, President Obama make inHowever, the United through aninquiry unrelenting masasked to come with that itspresident. products iPhones were made The rebirth ofoperations. Newt Gingrich, But as P.well Jobs ofquestion Apinterrupted with an of tery of global operations. Lasta party establishm Mr.Steven Obama as asaeconothan Goldman Sachs, Exxon mired and most imitated comnotio ple spoke, President Obama year, it earned over $400,000 through an unrelenting masonly interrupted with an inquiry of mists and policy makers is tery of global operations. Last for the president. States? notion that seemed far-fetched Butple as spoke, Steven P. Jobs ofitsMobil Apple spoke, Presiyear, itper earned over $400,000 President Obama his own:in what would it take to orpanies Google. earth, part only with anoninquiry that Apple — and many of interrupted in profit employee, more of global operations. Last past a volatile co THE iECONOMY litan hisofown: what would it over take to year, it earned $400,000 But aswith Steven P. Jobs of Ap-terythrough in Goldman profit per employee, more interrupted an inquiry of make iPhones in the United Not long ago, Apple boasted high-technology peers — are only weeks ago, has upended a an unrelenting mashis own: what would it take to litany than Sachs, Exxon However, what has vexed year, it earned over $400,000 dent Obama interrupted with an inquiry of his An Empire Built Abroad make iPhones in the United grass-roots move in profit per employee, more turb not nearly as avid in creating ple spoke, President Obama than his own:American what would it takefa-to in States? that its products were tery of global operations. Last litany of assumptions aboutExxon this iPhones in the United Mobil or Goldman Google. Sachs, profit per employee, more turbu jobsmade as other make Mr. Obama as well asStates? econothan Sachs, Exxon interrupted with an in inquiry of At a minimum Rom own: what would Mobil or Google. make in the United Not long ago,Goldman Apple boasted mous companies were their year, it earned over $400,000 States? in America. Today, few are. iPhones than Goldman Sachs, Exxon However, what has vexed turbulent race. It wounds Mr. Rom Not long ago, Apple boasted Mobil or Google. mists and policy makers is heydays. his own: what would it take to However, what has vexed Almost all of the 70States? million sting Republican voter that its products were made in profit per employee, more Not long ago, Apple boasted Mobil or Google. Mr. Obama as well as econoit Apple take —toand make sting Apple employs 43,000 peoRomney, given his thatofitsitsproducts iPhones, 30 million iPads and However,were whatmade has vexed that many make iPhones inStates the and United Mr.particularly Obama as well as econoApple boasted THE iECONOMY on Sa S than Goldman Sachs, Exxon ple inago, the United ing three differen that its products were made 59 million other productsNot Ap- long mists and policy makers is However, what has vexed on double-digit defeat here Mr. Obama as wellstinging as econoStates? iPhones inorthe Unitoverseas,were a smallmade frachigh-technology peers —econoare mists and policy makers is ple sold last year werethat manuits20,000 products Mobil Google. hood that Apple — and many of its Mr. Obama as well as first three stops tion of the over 400,000 Amerihoodi An Empire Built Abroad mists and policy on makers is Apple THE iECONOMY factured overseas. Saturday, and—raises the likeliNot long ago, Apple boasted that and many of its not nearly as avid in creating what vexed THEhas iECONOMY high-technology peers — are mists However, and policy makers is Apple — and many Why can’t that work come can workers at General Mo-ed States? could ing contest, are in could that of its itsinproducts made An Empire Built Abroad the 1950s, or were the hunthat theNext, Republican contest high-technology — are THE iECONOMY home? Mr. Obama asked. that tors Mr. Obama as well asoffaeconoNewt Gingrich addressed supporters after winning the Southhood Carolina primary. the campaigns move on to Florida. American jobs other not nearly as avid inpeers creating that Apple — as and many its An Empire Built Abroad dreds of thousands at General Fo high-technology peers — are iECONOMY Fo tle on their nomin Not long ago, Mr. Jobs’s reply wasTHE unamnot nearly as avid in creating could stretch into mists and were policy is An Empire Built Abroad Electric in the 1980s. Many American jobs the as springtime. other fahigh-technology peers — not are nearly mous companies in makers their biguous. “Those jobs aren’tToday, as avid in creating in America. few are. Mr.w G Mr. G An Empire Abroad American jobswere as inother faMr. Romney, moreBuilt people work forproducts Apple’s that Apple —inand many ofNEWS its ANALYSIS comingApple back,” he said, accordFor now the race goes on, with boasted that its made in mous companies their notwere nearly as avid in creating THE iECONOMY heydays. America. Today, few are. American jobs as other facontractors: an additional joine Almost ing to another dinnerall guest.of the 70 million joine Wide Support in mous companies were in their has been built ar high-technology peers — America. Today, fewwere are.in heydays. American as in other fa700,000 people engineer, build Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney The America. president’s question Almost all ofare the 70 million mous companies their Apple employs 43,000 peoAn Empire BuiltiPads, Abroad Today, few are. Almost all ofjobsthe 70 in America. Today, few are. heydays. iPhones, 30conmillion iPads and and assemble iPhones Paul DONALD CHAN/REUTERS not nearly as avid in creating Almost all of the 70 million touched upon a central DONALD CHAN/REUTERS sition that hePaul. can mous companies were inFades their Apple employs 43,000and peoDONALD CHAN/REUTERS South Carolina joined by Rick Santorum Ron DONALD CHAN/RE iPhones, 30 million iPads and in America. Today, few are. heydays. Certainty as Romney Falters and Apple’s other products. ple in the United States and Almost all of the 70 million here Apple employs 43,000 peovictionmillion at Apple. It isn’t just 59 million other products ApAmerican jobs as other fahere iPhones, 30 million iPads and iPhones, 30the million iPads and 59 million heydays. ple in the United States and none of70 them work People flooded Foxconn Technology with résumés at a badly among vot 59 million other products Apallalmost of million that workers are Almost cheaper But Apple employs 43,000 peoPaul. But Mr. Gingrich’s showing People flooded Foxconn Technology with résumés at a résumés iPhones, 30 million iPads and DONALD CHAN/REUTERS ple in United and flooded Foxconn Technology with at a may 20,000 overseas, a small fracPeople flooded Foxconn Technology with inrésumés Surge in the UnitedmanuStates. Instead, candidate whothe shared their faith.States mous companies were inPeople their 59 million other products Apsold last year were abroad.ple Rather, Apple’s execmay 20,000 overseas, a small fracApple employs peoPrimary in America. Today, few are. ple43,000 sold last year were manuiPhones, 30 million iPads andmillion ple in Results the United States and they were very w 2010 job fair inhere Henan Province, China. products sold last year were manuwork for foreign compaHe did not winoverseas, over people who suggests that Mr. Romney 59 other Ap20,000 a small fracutives other believe the vast scale of they Apple his By JEFFproducts ZELENY 2010 job fair in Henan Province, China. tion of the over 400,000 Ameriheydays. ple sold last year were manu2010 job fair in Henan Province, China. tion of the over 400,000 Ameriple in the United States and REPORTING: 2010 job fair in Henan Province, China. PERCENT 100% People flooded Foxconn Technology with résumés at a factured overseas. Almost the 70elsemillion inall Asia,of Europe and his ri r support the Tea Party movement. factured overseas. 59 other products Ap20,000 overseas, a small fracoverseas factories as wellmillion as nies economy, accord ple sold last year were manution of the over 400,000 Amerimay no longer be able to count on CHARLESTON, S.C. — For vote where, at factories that alApple employs 43,000 peofactured overseas. factured overseas. And heworkers struggled with can at General Mocan atquestions General Mo-By JIM RUTENBERG 20,000 overseas, a Why small fracthe flexibility, diligence and iPhones, 30 in million iPads andworkers Newt Gingrich 243,398 40% AmeriWhy can’t that work come ple sold last year were manucan’t that work come vote tion of the over 400,000 Mittoverseas. Romney, the South Carolina 2010 job fair Henan Province, China. factured about his wealth over the past can workers at General MoHe had trouble industrial skills of foreign Continued on Page 20 his rivals the ple in the States andthat can’t work come tors insplitting the not 1950s, or opposing theMr. hunMitt Romney 167,957 28 tionthe ofwas the 400,000 Amerinotover just aUnited defeat, in 1950s, or theWhy hun59 million other products Ap-primary factured overseas. home? Mr. Obama asked. week and could Mr. CHARLESTON, S.C. — Surcan workers at General MoWhy can’t that worktors come home? Mr. However, what has vexed Obama as Newt Gingrich add home? Mr. Obama asked. Newt Gingrich addressed supporters after winning the Why can’t that work come tors in thematch 1950s, or the hunthough it was most emphatically 20,000 overseas, a small fracRick Santorum 102,213 17 home? Mr. Obama asked. and voters sS vote into harmless parcels, or on Newt Gingrich a Gingrich in exciting the passions prising his rivals cals and scrambling dreds of thousands at General can workers at General Mople sold last year were manudreds of thousands at General Why can’t that work come tors in the 1950s, or the hunMr. Jobs’s reply was unamthat. It was also where his camhome? Mr. Obama asked. Mr. Jobs’s reply was unamdreds of thousands at General Newt Gingrich addressed supporters aft of conservatives. the Republican race for the presiRon Paul 78,093 13 of the over 400,000 AmeriObama home? asked. wellof as economists and policy is that Mr. hunJobs’s reply was unamElectric in ofthe 1980s. makers Many torstion in the 1950s, or factured overseas. paign confronted the prospect itthe Mr. Obama asked. dreds thousands at General biguous. “Those jobs aren’t Electric in the 1980s. Many dency, Newt Gingrich won the Newt Gingrich addressed supporters after winning the South Ca His arguments in electability Herman Cain 6,326 1 Electric the 1980s. Many Mr. Jobs’s reply was unambiguous. “Those jobs aren’t most hoped to avoid: aat domicanof workers General Mobiguous. “Those jobs aren’t more people work for dreds thousands at General pivotal South Carolina primary —Many the spine ofits his candidacy — Apple’s can’t that comehad Electric in— the 1980s. coming back,” he said, accordMr. Jobs’s reply was unambiguous. “Those Mr.Why Jobs’s reply waswork unamApple and many of high-technology peers nant, surging and energized ri-Apple’s more people work for more people work for Saturday, Apple’sjust 10 days biguous. “Those jobs aren’t after a disfell flat to a wide portion of the tors inin the or Many theback,” hun- he said, coming back,” he said, accordcoming accordcontractors: an additional Electric the1950s, 1980s. home? Mr. Obama val. Newt Gingrich addressed supporters after winning the South NEWS more people work for Apple’s ing to another dinner guest. biguous. “Those jobsasked. aren’t support he is getting from the party’s tant finish in New HampshireANALYSIS here. in an contractors: additional coming back,” heofofsaid, accordcontractors: an additional jobs coming back,” he said, according toaApple’s — are not nearly asbaseavid creating American left dreds thousands at General The rebirth Newt Gingrich, ing tothe another dinner guest. 700,000 people more people work for ing to aren’t another dinner guest. Mr. Jobs’s unamparty establishment to carry the impression that his candidacy For all that, by mostengineer, traditional build contractors: an himadditional coming back,” hereply said, was accordThe president’s question notion that seemed far-fetched 700,000 people engineer, build ing to another dinner guest. NEWS people build Electric engineer, in an the aadditional 1980s. was all but dead. ANALYSIS past Many a volatile conservative measures, Mr. Romney retains aiPhones The president’s question and assemble iPads, contractors: biguous. “Those jobs 700,000 aren’tonly The president’s question weeks ago, has upended another dinner guest. jobs as other companies were in their 700,000 people engineer, build ing to another dinner guest. touched upon amovement. central con- famous iPads, iPhones It was a striking development firmand upper assemble hand in the RepubliThe litany president’s question more people work forgrass-roots Apple’s touched upon a central conof assumptions about this and assemble iPads, iPhones and Apple’s other products. 700,000 people engineer, build coming back,” he said, accordand assemble iPads, iPhones in a months-long viction at Apple. It isn’t just can race as it moves into a proAt a minimum, it is clear that The president’s question touched upon a central conNEWSRepublican ANALYSIS and Apple’s other products. touched upon a central conturbulent race. It wounds Mr. The president’s question touched upon aiPhones heydays. contractors: an additional viction at Apple. Itcheaper isn’t just But almost none them work nominating contest that has seen and assemble iPads, tracted battle to win 1,144of deleRepublican voters, after deliverand Apple’s other products. ing to upon another dinner and Apple’s other products. that workers are Romney, particularly given his a central conviction attouched Apple. It isn’t just guest. But almost none of them work victionstinging at 700,000 Apple. It other isn’tengineer, just the restive base of conservative gates. ing three different winners in the in people build WA that workers are cheaper the United States. Instead, and Apple’s products. double-digit defeat here The president’s question central conviction atIt isn’t Apple. isn’t just that Apple employs 43,000 in the United But It almost none of the them work But almost none of them He work abroad. Rather, Apple’s execviction at Apple. just voters ping-pong among the alon theUnited ballot in people allStates. states, first three stops in the nominatiniswork the Instead, that workers are that workers are cheaper on Saturday, and raisescheaper likeliand assemble iPads, iPhones Obam abroad. Rather, Apple’s execthey for foreign compaBut almost none of them work ternatives to the party establishBy NINA BERNSTEIN while Mr. Gingrich is not. Even as ing contest, are in no rush to settouched upon a central conW By JACKIE CALMES in the United States. Instead, utives believe the vast scale20,000 of that workers are abroad. cheaper ZEL hood that the Republican contest in the United States. Instead, they work for foreign compaabroad. Rather, Apple’s execworkers are cheaper Rather, Apple’s and overseas, a and small fraction ofBy JEFF ment’s favorite, Mitt Romney. abroad. Rather, Apple’s execand Apple’s other products. he was steadily falling in South Primary Results tlebelieve onStates their nominee. utives theasfor vast scale ofcompaByPrima JEFF Z nies in Asia, Europe elseState in the United Instead, stretch into the States. springtime. viction at Apple. It isn’t justcould they work foreign overseas factories well as abroad. Rather, Apple’s execPrimary Results Obam not a Downton Abbey, have long With late-night tallies showing Carolina last week, he was rackThe feverish patient had spent they work for foreign companies in Asia, and elseMr.work Romney, whose messageByWASHINGTON utives they believe the vast scale NINA BERNSTEIN By JEFF ZELENY CHARLESTON, S ForBut now the race goes on, with almost none ofofcompathem By NINA BERNSTEIN — President overseas factories as well asJEFF ByEurope NINA BERNSTEIN utives believe the vastthe scale of where, atthousands factories that alwork for foreign By ZELENY Tues that workers are cheaper PERCENT executives believe the vast scale of overseas Mr. Gingrich beating Mr. Romthe over 400,000 American workers at General ing up tens of of early nies in Asia, Europe and elsehas been built around the propothe flexibility, diligence and utives believe vast scale of CHARLESTON By JEFF ZELENY Mr. Gingrich and Mr. where, atbeen factories thatPERCENT alREPORTING: 100% the hallmark of such “amenState overseas factories asRomney well aselsehours in adiligence crowded emergency nies in Asia, Europe and Mitt Romney, So in United States. Instead, 100% by REPORTING: 12S.C. percentage points, it the flexibility, and votes for the Florida primary on PERCENT nies inthe Asia, Europe and elsesition that he can create jobs, had lost CHARLESTON, — For Obama will use election-year overseas overseas factories as wellas as ernm not ahis Downton Abbey, have long abroad. Rather, Apple’s exec-joined by Rick Santorum and the Ron Primary Results The feverish patient spent where, atof factories that alBy BERNSTEIN industrial skills foreign factories wellNINA as Continued on Page 20ney Mitt Romney, the not a Downton Abbey, have long The feverish patient had spent not ahidden Downton Abbey, ha The feverish patient had spent CHARLESTON, S.C. — For was no small win. Exit polls the flexibility, diligence and Jan. 31. He has a well-financed ities units,” often behind factories as well as the flexibility, diligence and Motors in the 1950s, or the hundreds of thoubadly among votersshe who said primary was not just Newt G room. When opened her eyes CHARLESTON, S.C. — For Tues they work for foreign compaPaul. But Mr. Gingrich’s showing where, at factories that alindustrial skills of foreign Continued on Page 20 where, at factories that alMitt Romney, the South Carolina believe the vast scale JEFF ZELENY perou the flexibility, diligence and State ofSouth the Union address onthe showed Mr. Gingrich had done“amenitwas “super PAC” ready to carry out the utives flexibility, diligence and ofhere suggests been the hallmark of such “amenprimary notej Newt Gingrich 243,39 hours inher ahave crowded emergency they were very worried about theaBy Newt Gingrich 243,398 40% been the hallmark of such that Mr. Romney hours in hours aMitt crowded emergency industrial skills of foreign Continued on Page 20 been hallmark of such in crowded emergency PERCENT REPORTING: 100% though it was most Romney, the South Carolina Mitt Romney, the Carolina closed doors at New York’s prenot a Downton Abbey, long nies in Asia, Europe and elsein Manhattan hospital room The feverish patient had spent Peopleindustrial flooded Foxconn Technology with résumés at a ernm Ro with ajust formidable coalition of Mitt attacksElectric on his behalf. Andin he the primary was not a defeat, economy, according to exit polls. overseas factories as well as skills of foreign workers have so outsands at General 1980s. Many may no longer be able to count on draw industrial skills of foreign though it was mos Continued on Page 20 industrial skills China. of foreign Tuesday toaeyes argue that itoften isRomney govContinued on Page 20 room. ities units,” hidden behind CHARLESTON, S.C. —her For room. When she opened hernot eyes 2010 job fair in Henan Province, Mitt 167,957 28 groups that have resisted Mr. ities often hidden behind faces faropened friendlier terrain inhospitals. Feb-units,” that. Itoften was also whe primary was just defeat, When she opened her where, at factories that alMitt Romney 167,95 ities units,” hidden Hesuch had trouble with evangelimier But the phenomprimary was not just a defeat, room. When she eyes splitting thehallmark opposing last winter, she recalled later, she been the of “amenthough it was most emphatically hours in crowded diligence emergency pero thea flexibility, andhis rivals Rick Sa Newt Gingrich 243,398 4 that. It was also w the p Romney’s candidacy allan election Mitt the South Carolina cals and voters searching foritRomney, aernment’s Continued onto Page 16 role promote a prosvote into harmless parcels, or on paced their American counterparts that “Made more people work for Apple’s contractors: closed doors at New York’s prepaign confronted the though was most emphatically in her Manhattan hospital room closed doors at New York’s preRick Santorum 102,213 17 enon is escalating here and in her Manhattan hospital room closed doors at New Yor though it was most emphatically that. It was also where his camwondered if she could be halluciin her Manhattan hospital room season long: evangelical Chrisindustrial skills ofherforeign on Page 20 units,” often hidden behind room. When she opened eyes itiesContinued Rick Santorum 102,21 draw paign confronted nomi Ron Pau Mitt Romney 167,957 2 primary was not just a defeat, had most hoped to av that. It was also where his camperous and equitable society, tians, Tea Party supporters and mier hospitals. But the phenomshe recalled later, she paign confronted the prospect it around the country, health care mier hospitals. But the phenomnating: “This isthough like the Four Sea-she in the U.S.A.” is nohospital longerroom a viable option for additional 700,000 people engineer, build and last winter, she recalled later, that. It was also where his camRon Paul 78,093 13Intp mier hospitals. 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Instead, they work for foreign international competition for Notably, Mr. Obama willriagain who poses a competition singular, insurgent only weeks ago, has The rebirth of Newt Gingrich, a val. The bed linens were by Frette, international for pick international competiti The bed linens were by Frette, notion that seemed far-fetched bed linens were by Frette, design specialists an day, party establishment to carry him WASHINGTON — President say, part ofThe sons — where am I?” the support he is getting only weeks ago, h propose changes to the tax code threat to Mr. Romney. He used past av ment cuts back hospital reimval. millions of supporters on Saturprinces. The bathroom gleamed litany of assumption notion that seemed far-fetched wealthy patients willing to pay Obama will use his election-year JEWEL SAMAD The rebirth ofwealthy Newt Gingrich, aago, Obam the support he isat getting from Italian purveyors of high-threadBy NINA BERNSTEIN wealthy patients willing to pay only weeks has upended a so the pay more, despite earth,The in part through anFrette, unrelenting mastery companies in Asia, Europe and elsewhere, his victory speech to cast himself wealthy patients willing Italian purveyors ofrebirth high-threadaparty volatile conservative Italian purveyors of high-threadcompetition for litany of assumpt lican establishment towo cat bed linens were by grass-r The ofwinNewt Gingrich, apast State international of the Union address on bursement in pursuit of athis more turbulent race. It only weeks ago, has upended a Republicans’ consistent opposiwith polished marble. 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Last year, it earned over factories that almost all electronics designers notion that seemed far-fetched At a m past a volatile conservati been the hallmark of such “amenItalian purveyors of high-threadhours in of a crowded emergency universal and affordable AmeriRomney, particularly litany of assumptions about this panoramic East ernment’s role to promote a pros- dows displayed licans went topolls the polls to help past a volatile conservative turbulent race. It wounds Mr. omy support the idea, show, and ing his popular castigation of the ment cuts back hospital reimonly weeks ago, has upended a At a minimum, it is clear that Romney, particul princes. The bathroom gleamed room. When she opened her eyes ities units,” often hidden behind perous ment backand hospital reimment cuts back hospita only weeks has upended a it cuts The bathroom gleamed Republ Americans nee Obam extra, evenGoldas the princes. federal governprinces. 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It wounds Mr. universal and affordable Amerifirst thr hood that the Repub stinging double-digit defeat here dows displayed panoramic East universal and affordable Amerinomicbursement uncertainty. the Republican presidential canuniversal and affordable dows displayed panoramic Easton Standing beside hislikeliwife, Calomy Saturday, and raises the medical grounds and specialties, in pursuit of a more dows displayed panoramic East Republican voters, after delive vest and tie proffered an elabRepublican voters, after d the country,Huge health care with polished marble. win- In a video preview e-mailed nating: “This is like the Four Sea- around hood that the Rep “an three stops inanthe nominattrail, contrasting “blueprint for anlikeliAmerican to Romney, particularly given his didateraises Mitt Romney that he paysfirst Romney, particularly given his ing lista,econassystem. he addressed exubercould stretch intocon the on Saturday, and the can medical system. design specialists say, part of an views. And in the hush of sons — where am I?” can medical hood that the Republican contest can medical system. but competing for customers who River views. And in the hush of ing three different winners in t gove millions of supporters and onRiver Saturuniversal affordable AmeriRiver views. And the hush of taxes at a in lower rate than many orate menu and told her, “I’ll be could stretch into ing three different winne ing contest, are in no rush to setant crowd in Columbia, Mr. Ginggets dows displayed panoramic East stinging double-digit defeat here has described omy that’s built to because last,” with the on th The bed linens were by Frette, international competition for day, as South Carolina Repubhood thatin the Republican contest For now thetlerace g stinging double-digit defeat here Americans “It’s not just competing on could stretch into the springtime. rich attributed his victory to nominat her $2,400 suite, a man a middle-class black first three stops in the “It’s not just competing on can just anywhere,” said President Obama says allsuite, “It’s not just compe wealthy patients willinghush to pay oflicanscan For now the rac $2,400 suite, a government man inand a his black secto your butler.” tleabout on their nominee. Italian purveyors River of high-threadsystem. her $2,400 man in ago black their first three stops in the no on Saturday, raises the likeliviews. And in the went medical to the polls to help her most of income comes from could into the springtime. Mr. Gingrich and Mr R “something very fundamental “go it free assisting the private on and raises the Forlikelinow the race goes on, with Americans need “a Saturday, fair stretch shot.” count sheets to popes and extra, even as the federal governmedical grounds and specialties, ing contest, are in alone” noinrushMr. to se Helen K. Cohen, a specialist CMYK How U.S. Lost Out On iPhone Work Upset by Gingrich Upset Upset How U.S. Lost Out Upset by Gin How U.S. Lost Out Upset by Gingrich Sh How U.S. Lost Out Apple’s Experience Shows How U.S. Lost Out Upset by Gingrich Shifts G.O.P. Campaign How U.S. Lost Out U.S. Lost OutOn Upset by Gingrich S iPhone Work On iPhone Work How Why Jobs Are Flowing to China iPhone Work On iPhoneOn Work iPhoneOn Work Certainty Fades a On iPhone Work W STEPHEN MORTON FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES In Chefs, Butlers, Marble Baths: In Chefs, Butlers, Marble Baths: Chefs, Butlers, Marble Baths: Chefs, Butlers, Marble Baths In Speech, Obama to Dra Chefs, Butlers, Marble Baths: Hospitals Vie for the Affluent Cer Ce Hospitals Vie for the Affluent Hospitals Vie for the Affluent Certainty Fades as Ro Hospitals Vie for the Afflu Certainty Fad Certainty Fades as Romn Hospitals Vie for the Affluent Certainty Fades as Rom DONALD CHAN/REUTERS JEWEL SAMAD/A.F.P. — GETTY IMAGES 20 Ø THE NEW YORK TIMES NATIONAL SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012 N THOMAS LEE/BLOOMBERG NEWS THOMAS LEE/BLOOMBERG NEWS A production line in Foxconn City in Shenzhen, China. The iPhone is assembled in this vast facility, which has 230,000 employees, many at the plant up to 12 hours a day, six days a week. LEE/BLOOMBERG NEWS ina. The iPhone A production is assembled line in in this Foxconn vast facility, City in which Shenzhen, has 230,000 China.employees, The iPhonemany is assembled atTHOMAS the plant in this up vast to 12 facility, hours awhich day, six hasdays 230,000 a week. employees, m in this vast facility, which has 230,000 employees, many at the plant up to 12 hours a day, six days a week. How the United States Lost Out on iPhone Work United Lost the OutUnited on iPhone StatesWork Lost Out on iP tes LostStates OutHow on iPhone Work had been carrying a prototype of the de- Shift From Manufacturing From Page 1 in his pocket. create middle-class jobs in Athe U.S. now,” said global andviceMr. national economies The areiEconomy increasingly Jobs angrily held up his iPhone, A look at the largest employers Articles in this series are examining most all electronics designers rely upon angling it so everyone could see the dozshows how America’s economy has Jared Bernstein, who until last year was anhad ecointertwined. posed by increasingly globalto build their wares. ens of tiny scratches changed. Over the last 50 years, been carrying a prototype of the de- marring its plastic challenges had been carrying a ized high-tech industries. screen, according to someone who at“Apple’s an exampleManufacturing of why it’s so A Shift From A Shift From Manufacturing the country has shifted from From Page 1the the adviser White House. “Companies once felt an obligation tovice supvice in his pocket. in his pocket. Service tended the meeting. He then pulled his hardnomic to create middle-class jobs into had been a prototype of the decreating goods tocarrying providing The iEconomy 86% keyshis fromiPhone, his jeans. U.S. now,” said Jared Bernstein, who unufacturing ONLINE: A motion graphic on Jobs the Mr. Jobs angrily held up Mr. angrily services. Today, about a tenth of vice in his pocket. 100 % 100 % PERCENTAGE OF WORKERS PERCENTAGE OF WORKERS est employers A look at the largest employers “Ifan economic it’s the pinnacle of capitalism, we should Goods-producing, portiEconomy American workers, even wasn’t the til last year was adviser to People will carry this phone in their when declineit of manufacturing in America The Americans work in manufacturing, Articles in this series are examining most all electronics designers rely upon angling it so everyone could see the dozangling it so everyo the White House. including manufacturing pocket, he said. People also carry their IN EACH SECTOR IN EACH SECTOR and a forum for reader comments. On angrily held up his iPhone, ca’s economy has how America’s economy has whileMr. serviceJobs providers andshows retailers ERCENTAGE OF WORKERS in pocket. “I challenges won’t sell aBetsey “If it’s the pinnacle capitalism, we worried.” best 14% financial choice,” said Stevenson, posed increasingly Monday,by Charles Duhigg will respond tobe build their of wares. of50 tiny scratches itstheir plastic ens ofglobaltinyto scratche Articles inmarring this keys series are examining like Walmart and tempeveryone firms like angling it so could the SECTOR e EACH last 50 years, changed. Oversee theens lastdozyears, product that gets scratched,” he said should be worried.” reader questions. Kelly Services employ about six in ized high-tech industries. screen, according to someone who atscreen, “Apple’s an example of why it’s so tensely. The only solution was using challenges posed by increasingly globalApple executives say that going overens of tiny scratches marring its plastic Apple executives that going economist at the LaborService Department according t hifted from the countryoverseas, has shifted from the chief unscratchable seven ofsay the nation’s workers. seas, at thisto point, is theirmiddle-class only option. Service tended He60 then pulledglass his instead. “I want a nytimes.com/business tended the meeting create jobs in according the ized high-tech industries. screen, to someone who at-the meeting. 60described how glass screen, and I want it perfect in six providingOnehard creating goods to providing former executive at this point, is their only option. One former ex“That’s disappeared. Prof86% 86% graphic keys from hisuntil jeans.last September. keys now,” whothe un-meeting. ONLINE: A motion onfrom the his jeans. weeks.” theU.S. company reliedsaid upon Jared a Service ChineseBernstein, factended He then pulled his bout a tenth of revamp iPhone manufacturing services. Today, about a tenth of After one executive left that meeting, torytiltolast year was an economic adviser to People will carry this phone in their will carry 86% Goods-producing, Goods-producing, decline of manufacturing inPeople America keysthe fromcompany his jeans. ecutive relied upon its and efficiency have trumped generosity.” ONLINE: A motion graphic on the “The entire supply chain is in China just weeks before thedescribed device was due on how he booked a flight to Shenzhen, China. If n manufacturing, Americans work in manufacturing, 1960 2010 the White House. now,” said another former high-ranking including manufacturing including pocket, he said.decline Peopleofalso their pocket, he said. Peo shelves. Apple had redesigned the Mr. carry Jobs wanted perfect, there was no-manufacturing and a forum for reader comments. On People will carry this phone in their Goods-producing, manufacturing in America iders andiPhone’s retailers while service providers and retailers Companies Apple executive. “You need a thousand aincluding Chinese factory to revamp manufacand that screen the last minute, forcwhere else to go. a other economists 14% 14% say keys in their sell in their pock “If it’s atthe pinnacle of capitalism, wesaid.iPhone pocket, he People alsoand carry their Duhigg willkeys respond to rubber gaskets? That’s the factory next 20 andpocket. a forum“I forwon’t reader comments. On hadCharles inglike an assembly manufacturing line20overhaul. New For over two years, the Monday, company temp firms like Walmart temp firmsthat like product gets scratched,” he said product that gets door. You need a million screws? That should be worried.” 14% screens began arriving at the plant near turing just weeks before the device was due been workingThough on a project — codenotion is naïve. Americans are among keys in their pocket. “I won’t sell a reader questions. Monday, Charles Duhigg will respond to ploy about six Apple in Kelly Services employ about six in factory is a block away. You need that midnight. named Purple 2 — that presented the tensely. only solution was using tensely. The only executives say that product going overthat gets scratched,” he workers. said Thereader screw world, made a little bit different? foreman immediately roused 8,000 same questions at workers every turn: how in do the questions. on shelves. redesigned the the most educated the na-It will glass n’s workers.Aseas, seven of the iPhone’s nation’s nytimes.com/business unscratchable glass instead. “I want reimagine a unscratchable take three hours.” at the this point,Apple is theirhad only option. workers inside company’s dormitoyou completely the celltensely. The only solution was using 1960last 1960And in 2010 ries,One according to the executive. Eachdescribed howtraining do you design it at the and Ihas want stopped itphone? perfect six glass screen, and I w former how nytimes.com/business screen atexecutive the minute, forcing an2010 assembly tion enough people in the unscratchable glass instead. “Iglass wantscreen, a employee was given a biscuit and a cup highest quality — with an unscratchable In Foxconn City weeks.” weeks.” 2010 theguided company reliedandupon fac- and I want it perfect of tea, to a workstation with- a Chinese screen, for instance — while also ensurglass screen, in six line screens began arrivingAfter at one executive mid-level skills that factories executives An eight-hour drive from that glass in half an hour started a 12-hour shiftNew fit- manufacturing thatmeeting, millions can be manufactured need, left ing that After one executi tory to overhaul. revamp iPhone weeks.” factory is a complex, known informally ting glass screens into beveled frames. quickly and inexpensively enough to THE LARGEST THE LARGEST “The entire supply chain isiPhone in China as Foxconn City, where the is ashe booked a flight to Shenzhen, China. If he booked a flight to just weeks before the device was due on the plant near say. 96 hours, the plant was midnight. proearn a significant profit? After one executive left that meeting, 1960Within 2010 1960 2010 EMPLOYERS EMPLOYERS sembled. Toformer Apple executives, Foxconn now,” said another high-ranking ducing over 10,000 iPhones a day. The answers, almost every time, shelves. Apple had redesigned thea flight to Shenzhen, China. Mr. Jobs wanted perfect, was noMr. that Jobs wanted pe “The entire there supply chain is in China he booked If City was further evidence China foreman immediately roused To thrive, argue they need to 2010 “The speedA and flexibility is breathwere foundcompanies outside the United Walmart 8,000 workWalmart AppleStates. executive. “Youworkers need thousand Goods-producing Goods-producing could deliver —aand diligence iPhone’s screen the last minute, forcelse to go. said where else to go. now,” another high-ranking taking,” the executive said. at “There’s no Mr. Jobs wanted perfect, there where was noThoughformer components differ between ver- 2,100,000 2,100,000 — that That’s outpaced the their factory American counrubber gaskets? nexttwo yea Walmart American plant that can match that.” sions, all iPhones contain hundreds of ing an assembly line overhaul. New ers inside the company’s dormitories, accordApple executive. “You need acan thousand move work where it generate enough profFor over two years, the company had For over g Service-providing Service-providing General Motors where else to go. terparts. parts, an estimated 90 percent of which Similar stories could be told about al2,100,000 door. You need a because millionnothing screws? That 595,200 screens began arriving at the plant near rubber gaskets? That’s the factory next been working on a project — codebeen working on That’s like Foxconn are manufactured abroad. Advanced most any electronics company — and overemployee two years, thewas company had g ing to the executive. For Each given its2 to keep payinghave forcomefactory innovation. Doing otherexists in the United States. is aCity block away. You need Purple that 2 — employees semiconductors from Geroutsourcing has also become common midnight. door. Youthat need a millionthe screws? That named Purple — presented named been working on a project — codeThe facility has 230,000 employees, many and Taiwan, memory from Korea in hundreds of industries, including acscrew made a little bitjobs different? Itoften will aAbiscuit and a cuproused of tea, guided to apresented workstawise losing even more American over foreman 8,000 factory is a block away. You need that samethe questions at risks every turn: how dopanels same questions at many working six days a week, named Purple 2 — that counting, legal services,immediately banking, auto and Japan, display and circuitry spending up to 12 hours a day at the take three manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. from Korea and Taiwan, chipsets from hours.” workers inside the company’s dormitoscrew made a little bit different? It will you completely reimagine the cellyou completely r same questions at every turn: how do Astarted job A plant. job of tion and within half an hour a 12-hour Over a quarter of Foxconn’s work time, as evidenced by the legions once-proud Europe and rare metals from Africa and But while Apple is far from alone, it Bell System ries, accordingthe tosuccess the of executive. Each placement phone? Andtake howthree do you design itallatof the phone? hours.” placement force lives in company barracksAnd and how do you completely reimagine the cellAsia. And it is put together in Chioffers a window intoAwhy job (later AT&T) many workers earn less than $17 aquality day. shift fitting glass screens into beveled frames. agency agency domestic manufacturers — including and na. some prominent companies hasa not employee was given biscuit and a And cup highest — with an unscratchable highest —w In Foxconn City G.M. phone? how do580,400 you design it at thequality placement When one Apple executive arrived durtranslated into large numbers of domesIn its early days, Apple usually didn’t 538,000 538,000 of tea, guided to a workstation and withscreen, for instance — while also ensurscreen, for ing a shift change, his car was stuck in ainstance agency highest quality — producing with an unscratchable tic jobs. What’s more,96 the company’s de- the look beyond its own backyard for manuIn Foxconn City Within hours, plant was over others — that have shrunk as nimble competiAn eight-hour from that river ofdrive employees streaming past. 538,000 in half hour started a 12-hour shiftfor fit-instance — while also cisions pose an broader questions about facturing solutions. A few years after ing that millions can be manufactured ing thatglass millions ca screen, ensurscale is unimaginable,” he said. factory is complex, known informally what10,000 corporate America owes AmeriApple began building the Macintosh in a “The iPhones a day. An eight-hour drive from that glass tors have emerged. ting glass screens into beveled frames. quickly and inexpensively enough to quickly and inexp Foxconn employs nearly 300 guards ing that millions can be manufactured Ford cans as the global and national econo1983, for instance, Mr. Jobsas bragged that Foxconn City, thesoiPhone isnot asI.B.M. I.B.M. to directwhere foot traffic workers factory is a complex, known Within 96 hours, the and plantquickly was proearn ato significant profit? earn a are significant pr mies are increasingly intertwined. it was “a machine that informally is made in AmerMotor and inexpensively enough “The speed flexibility is breathtaking,” Apple was provided with extensive summa426,751 426,751 crushed in doorway bottlenecks. The faApple executives,The Foxconn ica.”where In 1990, while Jobssembled. wasis running “Companies once I.B.M. felt an obligation to as Foxconn City, theMr. iPhone as- Tocility’s 260,000 ducing over 10,000 iPhones aearn day. a significant profit? The answers, almost every time, answers, a central kitchen cooks an average NeXT, which was eventually bought by support American workers, even when City was further evidence that 426,751 the said. “There’s no American were plant ries ofthe The New York this To Apple executives, of three tons of porkfor and 13 tons found ofChina rice a outside “The speed and flexibility is breathApple, the executive told Times’s aFoxconn reporter that reporting found sembled. outside United States. were it wasn’t theexecutive best financial choice,” said The answers, almost every time, day.workers While factories spotless, the air could deliver — are and diligence “I’m asevidence proud of the factory as I am of Betsey Stevenson, the chief economist City was further that China taking,” the executive said. “There’s no Though components differ between verThough inside nearby teahouses is hazy component with were found outside that can match that.” article, but company, which has a reputation thethe computer.” As late as — 2002,that top Apat the Labor Department until last SepPackagethe United States. Package outpaced American counGeneral could deliver —occasionally and diligence the smoketheir and stench ofsions, cigarettes. American plant that Profits can match that.”components sions, all iPhones containworkers of all iPhones c plehundreds executives drove two delivery tember. “That’s disappeared. delivery differ between Though verFoxconn Technology has dozens of faterparts. Package Electric hours northeast of their headquarters to and efficiency have trumped generosSimilar stories could be told about almost forthat secrecy, declined to comment. — outpaced their American coun- company parts, an estimated 90 percent of which parts, anand estimated Similar stories could be told about company sions, all aliPhones contain cilities in Asia and Eastern Europe, visit the company’s iMac plant in Elk ity.” delivery 260,600 hundreds of That’s because terparts. 400,600 in Mexiconothing and Brazil, like and it Foxconn assembles are manufactured abroad. are manufactured most any electronics company and Grove,Advanced Calif. Companies and other economists say any electronics company and outsourcing has parts,—an— estimated 90 percent of which This article is had based on400,600 interviews with company anthe estimated 40 percent of the world’s City exists United States. Butfrom by 2004,GerApple largely turned in thatoutsourcing notion is naïve. Though Americans That’s because nothing like Foxconn semiconductors have come semiconductors ha has also become common 400,600 are manufactured abroad. Advanced consumer electronics for customers like are among thebecome most educated common workers to foreign manufacturing. Guiding that in hundreds of industries, Thecurrent facility hasand 230,000 employees, more than three dozen former City exists in the United States. Amazon, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Moto-Taiwan, m many and Taiwan, memory from Korea many and inalso hundreds of industries, ac- McDonald’s in the world, the nation has stopped including decision was Apple’s operations expert, semiconductors have come from GerMcDonald’s rola, Nintendo, Nokia, Samsungoften and many six days a and week, training enough people in the mid-level banking, auto Timothy D. Cook, who replaced working Mr. U.S. Steel The facility has circuitry 230,000 employees, counting, legal services, and Japan, display panels and Japan, display accounting, services, banking, Apple employees and contractors — many of Corporation Corporation manylegal and Taiwan, memory from Korea Sony. skillsincluding that factoriesMcDonald’s need, executives Jobs as chief executive last August, six up 225,100 spending to 12could hours afrom day atovertheand Ta many working six days a week, often from Korea and Taiwan, chipsets from Korea “They hire 3,000 people 400,000 400,000 say.manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. weeks before Mr. Jobs’s death. Most and Japan, display panels and circuitry Corporation manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. whom requested toquarter protect their said Jennifer Rigoni, whowork was rare me Over anight,” of Foxconn’s other American electronics companies Toauto thrive, argue they up to 12 hours aanonymity dayplant. at the Europe rare metals from Africa and Europe and But companies while Apple isneed far from alone, it and Taiwan, chipsets from Korea fromand spending 400,000 worldwide supply demand manhad already gone abroad, and Apple, to move work where it can generate force lives Apple’s in until company barracks and Over quarter oftime Foxconn’s work Asia.and And allplant. of it is putaas together in ChiAsia.toAnd all of it is offers aBut window into why success of rare metals agermanufacturing 2010, but declined discuss which at the was struggling, felt it enough profits to keep paying forApple inno- the while is farand from alone, it offers a jobs — well as economists, Europe from Africa Operator of Operator ofof her specifics work. “What many workers earn less than $17U.S.a plant day. had to grasp everybarracks advantage. vation. Doingprominent otherwise riskscompanies losing Sears, force lives in company and na. na. some has not Asia. And all of it is put together in ChiTaco Bell, KFC, Taco Bell, KFC, can find 3,000 people overnight and conevenwindow more American jobs over time, as In part, Asia was attractive because into why thena.success some prominent experts, trade specialists, technolWhen one Apple executive arrived dur- days, Operator of Roebuck many earn less than $17 a day. translated into large numbers of domes- of In its early days,workers Appleinternational usually didn’t In its early vinceHut them to live in dorms?” evidenced by the legions of once-proud the semiskilled workers there were Pizza Pizza Hut Taco Bell, KFC, 208,000 ing adurshift 378,000 change, his car was stuck in aits own In mid-2007, after a month of experidomestic manufacturers —has including cheaper. But that wasn’t driving Apple. When one Apple executive arrived 378,000 tic jobs. What’s more, the company’s delook beyond its own backyard for manulook beyond companies not translated into large numogy analysts, academic researchers, employees In its early days, Apple usually didn’t Pizzahave Hutshrunk as mentation, Apple’s engineers finally G.M. and others — that For technology companies, the costofof employees river streaming past. ing a shift change, his car was stuck in a cisions pose broader questions about facturing solutions. A few years after facturing solutions. perfected a method for cutting strengthnimble competitors have emerged. labor is minimal compared with the exlook beyond its own backyard manubers of 378,000 domestic What’s more, theforApple comatbuilding Apple’s suppliers, and “The scale isened unimaginable,” heused said. glass so corporate it couldApple be in the buildin of buying partscompetitors and managing Apple wascorporate provided withAmerica extensive jobs. of employees streaming past. what owes Ameribeganriver the pense Macintosh in began facturing solutions. A few years after iPhone’s screen. The first truckloads of supply chains that bring together comsummaries of The New York Times’s reSupermarket Foxconn employs nearly1983, 300City guards Target “The scale is unimaginable,” cans as article, thedecisions global and national econo1983, for Mr. Jobs bragged that he for M pany’s pose broader questions about partners, and government officials. cut glass arrived at Foxconn ininstance, the ponents and services fromsaid. hundreds of Target porting for this but the company, Apple began building the Macintosh in instance, chain to direct foot traffic so workers are not 355,000 355,000 dead of night, according to the former companies. which has are a reputation for secrecy,intertwined. demies increasingly Foxconn employs nearly 300 guards it was “a machine that is made in Amerit was “a machine th Target 153,000 1983, for instance, Mr. Jobs bragged that Apple executive. That’s when managers what corporate America owes Americans as the Privately, Apple say the world is1990, clined to comment. For Mr. theexecutives focus Asiain doorway crushed bottlenecks. The fadirect traffic soCook, workers areonnot ica.” In 1990,to while Mr.foot Jobs was running In 355,000 “Companies once felt an obligation to woke thousands of ica.” workers, who while M 100 % PERCENTAGE OF WORKERS IN EACH SECTOR 60 20 1960 2010 THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS Goods-producing General Motors 595,200 employees Service-providing Walmart 2,100,000 Bell System (later AT&T) 580,400 A job placement agency 538,000 Ford Motor 260,000 I.B.M. 426,751 General Electric 260,600 Package delivery company 400,600 U.S. Steel 225,100 McDonald’s Corporation 400,000 Sears, Roebuck 208,000 Operator of Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut 378,000 Supermarket chain 153,000 Target 355,000 Brand owned by Standard Oil of N.J. (later Exxon) 140,000 Grocery retailer 338,000 Bethlehem Steel 138,300 HewlettPackard 324,600 International Telephone & Telegraph 132,000 Home improvement retailer 321,000 Westinghouse Electric 114,000 Sears Holding 312,000 U.S. military contractor 105,700 PepsiCo 294,000 Chrysler 105,400 Bank of America 288,000 “came down to two things,” said one forThis article is based on interviews it was “a machine that is made in AmerGeneral Sperry cility’s central kitchen cooks an—average crawled into their uniforms white and mer high-ranking Apple executive. Facwith more than three dozen current and NeXT, which was bought by NeXT, which was e crushed in doorway bottlenecks. The fasupport American workers, even when Electriceventually RandIn ica.” 1990, while Mr. Jobs was running Brand owned shirts for men, for women —a in Asia “can scale of up three and down former Apple employees and contrac287,000 105,300 tonsblack of pork and 13red tons of the rice Apple,by the executive told atories reporter thatsupply cility’s central kitchen an average financial choice,” said was by Standard bought Grocery and quickly lined up Apple, to assemble, byexecutive NeXT, which eventually torsit—wasn’t many of the whombest requested anofaster” and cooks “Asian chains have Grocery day. While factories are spotless, theproud air of th hand, the phones. Within threeas months, nymity to protect their jobs — asthe well as intons the U.S.” result “I’m as proud of thetons factory as and Iwhat’s am13of “I’m of three ofsurpassed pork of The rice a retailer Betsey Stevenson, chief economist retailerOil of N.J. Apple, the executive told a reporter that How the United Loston Out on iPhone he United StatesStates Lost Out iPhone WorkWork seven of the nation’s workers. unscratc seas, at this point, is their only option. 1960 2010 glass scr One former executive described how weeks.” the company relied upon a Chinese facAfter o tory to revamp iPhone manufacturing been carrying a prototype of the deLARGEST had been carryinghad aTHE prototype of the dehe booke just weeks before the device was due on EMPLOYERS in his pocket. vice in his pocket. vice shelves. Apple had redesigned the Mr. Jobs The iEconomy The iEconomy Walmart Mr. Jobs angrily held up his iPhone, held up his iPhone, 100 PERCENTAGE OF WORKERS Mr. Jobs angrily Goods-producing look at the largest screen employers iPhone’s the last minute, forcwhere el 100 %at PERCENTAGE OF % WORKERS at the largestAemployers Articles in this seri 2,100,000 Articles in this series are examining ely upon angling it so IN EACH SECTOR could seeeveryone the doz- could see the dozEACH SECTOR New line overhaul. shows howing America’s economyIN has For ov Service-providing General Motorsangling it so everyone how America’s economy hasan assembly THOMAS LEE/BLOOMBERG NEWS challenges posed b ens of tiny scratches marring its plastic challenges posed by increasingly ens of tiny scratches marring its plastic 595,200 screens beenglob wo changed. Over the began last 50 arriving years, at the plant near ed. Over the last 50 years, in this vast facility, which has 230,000 employees, at the plant up 12 hours a day, dayshigh-tech awho week. ized high-tech induP screen, according to someone at-industries. yiPhone it’s so is assembled employees many ized screen, according totosomeone who at- six named the country has shifted from untry has shifted from midnight. Service tended the meeting. s in the Service tended the meeting. He then pulled hisHe then pulled his A foreman 60 8,000 same qu creating goods to providing 60immediately roused g goods 86% 86% keys from his jeans. who un-to providing workers inside the company’s dormitoONLINE: A mot keys from his jeans. ONLINE: A motion graphic on the you com services. Today, about a tenth of A job es. Today, of dviser to about a tenthries, Bell SystemGoods-producing, People will in carry this phone in their decline of manu People will carry this phone their Goods-producing, decline of manufacturing in Amer according to the executive. Each phone? A placement Americans work in manufacturing, cans work in manufacturing, (later AT&T) including manufacturing pocket, he carry said. People their pocket, he said. People also their also and acomments. forum for On rea agency employee was a biscuit andincluding a cup manufacturing highest q andcarry a forum for reader while service providers andgiven retailers 580,400 ervice providers and retailers keys “I in won’t their pocket. won’t sell a Duhigg lism, we 14% 538,000 keys in 14% their pocket. sell a “IMonday, Monday, Charles D of tea, workstation and screen, f 20 withCharles will respond 20to alike like firms Walmart and guided temp firms almart and temp like that he getssaid scratched,” he said product that getsproduct scratched,” in half an hour started a 12-hour shift fiting that reader questions. reader questions. Kelly Services employ about six in ervices employ about six in tensely. solution was using ng overThe only solutionThe wasonly using ting glass workers. screens into beveled frames.had beenFord quickly carrying a tensely. prototype of the deof the nation’s the nation’sseven workers. nytimes.com/busin nytimes.com/business unscratchable glass ainstead. “I want a I.B.M. yofoption. unscratchable glass instead. “I want Within 96 hours, the plant was pro-vice in his earn a sig pocket. Motor 1960 2010 The iEconomy 426,751 1960 2010 andinI six want it perfect in six ed how glassup screen, and Iglass wantscreen, it perfect 260,000 ducing over 10,000 iPhones a day. The a Mr. Jobs angrily held his iPhone, 100 % PERCENTAGE OF WORKERS ers weeks.” nese facweeks.” Articles in this series are examining “TheSECTOR speed and flexibility is breath-angling it so everyone were fou could see the dozIN EACH my has one leftincreasingly that meeting, acturing After one left thatexecutive meeting, taking,” the executive said. “There’s noens of tiny scratches marring challenges posed by globalThough c itsexecutive plastic After Package THE LARGEST “The entire sup ears, THE LARGEST “The entire is in Ch heShenzhen, booked a flight toindustries. Shenzhen, China. If supply chainsions, s due on General booked a who flightatto China. If American plant that can match that.” screen, according al ized high-tech tohesomeone EMPLOYERS EMPLOYERS now,” said another now,” another former high-rank Electric ned the Mr. Jobsthere wanted there said was delivery noMr. Jobs wanted perfect, wasperfect, noService parts, an Similar stories could be told about alcompany tended the meeting. He then pulled his Walmart 60 Apple executive. “ 260,600 Walmart Goods-producing Apple executive. “You need a thousa Goods-producing ute, forcto go. else to go. where else 400,600 86%— andkeys from his jeans. where are man most any electronics company ONLINE: A motion graphic on the rubber gaskets? 2,100,000 2,100,000 Tn th of rubber gaskets? That’s the factory ul. New For over two years, the company had Service-providing General Motors For over two years, the company had Service-providing eneral Motors semicond outsourcing has also become common People will carry this phone in their Goods-producing, decline of manufacturing in need Americamillion You need aT door. — You screws? uring, 595,200 ant near working a project code- a door. 95,200 beenalso working onbeen a project — on codemany an in hundreds including of industries, including ac-pocket, he said. People manufacturing carry their and a forum for reader comments. On McDonald’s factory is a need blockt employees factory is athe block away. You mployees retailers named Purple 2 — that presented Steel named Purple 2 — that presented the counting, legal services, banking, and Japa 14% autokeys in U.S. their pocket. “I won’t sell a Corporation Monday, Charles Duhigg will respond toscrew 20 made a littl screw made a little bit different? It 225,100 ed like8,000 same questions at every turn: how do same questions at every turn: how do manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. product that gets scratched,” he said from Kor 400,000 hours.” reader questions. take three hours.” take threeEurope dormitoyou completely reimagine the cellsix in you reimagine the cellA job completely a But while Apple is far from alone, it A job tensely. The only solution was using Bell System ell ve. Each phone? And how you design it at the s. System placement And design it atdo the placement Asia. An offers a window into why the success ofunscratchable glassphone? instead. “I how wantdo a younytimes.com/business (later AT&T) ter AT&T) Operator of agency quality — with nd a cup highest quality — with an In unscratchable agency In Foxconn highest an unscratchable 1960some prominent companies 2010 Sears,and I want Foxconn City na. 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And all of it is putas together ChiButear bya that notion is naïve. Though Operator of Operator of many workers many workers earn less than $17 ad Sears, 426,751 na. has ars, not sembled. To Apple executives, Foxconn na. to foreig are among the most educated workers Taco Bell, KFC, The answers, almost every time, Taco Bell, KFC, When onearrived Apple ed Roebuck When one Apple executive oebuck f domesIn its early Apple usually didn’t City wasdays, further evidence that China Home International Pizza HutearlyStates. In its days, Apple usually didn’t in the world, the nation has stoppedwere decision Pizza Hut found outside the United 208,000 ing a shift change, 08,000 deing a shift change, his car was stuck improvement Telephone 378,000 any’s look beyond its own backyard for manucould deliver workers — and diligence 378,000 look beyond its own training enough people in the mid-levelThough components differ between ver- backyard for manuriverstreaming of Timothy employe retailer & Telegraph Package river of after employees s about facturing solutions. A few years — that outpaced their American counfacturing solutions. A few years after skills that factories need, executives Jobs aspc sions, all132,000 iPhones contain hundreds of 321,000 delivery “The scalehe is unim “The scale is unimaginable,” said. AmeriApple began building the Macintosh in terparts. Apple began building the Macintosh in say. weeks b parts, an estimated 90 percent of which company Supermarket employ Foxconn employs Foxconn nearly other 300 gua Targetfor instance, Mr. lpermarket econo1983,Jobs forThat’s instance, Mr. Jobs bragged because nothing likethat Foxconn bragged that Am To thrive, companies400,600 argue they needareTarget chain manufactured 1983, abroad. Advanced ain to direct foot traff 355,000 to direct foot traffic so workers are 355,000 ed. it was “a machine that is made in AmerCity exists in the United States. Sears Westinghouse it was “a machine that is made in Amer153,000 had alre to move work where it can generate 53,000 semiconductors have come from Gercrushed in doorwa crushed in doorway bottlenecks. Holding Electric ica.” In 1990, Mr.has Jobs was running gation to ica.” In 1990, Mr. Jobs waswhile running The facility 230,000 employees, whichThe at enough profits to keep paying for inno-many and Taiwan, memory fromwhile Korea cility’s central kitc 312,000 114,000 McDonald’s cility’s central kitchen cooks an aver NeXT, which was eventually bought by en when NeXT, which was eventually bought by many working six days a week, often Brand owned had to gr vation. Doing otherwise risks losing and owned and Japan, display panels and circuitry Corporation of three tons of por ofreporter threea tons of ric Apple, the executive that ce,” said by Standard Grocerythe executive Apple, toldspending a reporter upthat totold 12 ahours day atpork the and 13 tons Standard Grocery even more American jobs over time, asfrom Inofpar Korea and Taiwan, chipsets from 400,000 day. factorie Oil of N.J. retailer day. While areWhile spotless, the “I’m as proud I amfactories of work onomist of N.J. retailer “I’m as proud ofand the factory as Iofam offactory plant. Over athe quarter of as Foxconn’s evidenced by the legions of once-proud the sem Europe and rare metals from Africa (later Exxon) 338,000 inside nearby ter Exxon) 338,000U.S. military the nearby ischeaper. hazytea w the Asin late asinside 2002,barracks top Ap- teahouses ast SepPepsiCo latecomputer.” as 2002, top Apforce lives company and domestic manufacturers — includingAsia. Andcontractor all of it is put computer.” together in As Chi140,000 40,000 the smoke and sten 294,000 the smoke and stench of cigarettes. Operator of ple executives occasionally drove two Profits ple executives occasionally drove two many workers earn less than $17 a day. G.M. and others — that have shrunk asna. For tech 105,700 Taco Bell, KFC, Techno Foxconn Technology has dozens northeast of their headquarters to dur- Foxconn generoshours usually northeast ofhours their When headquarters to executive one Apple arrived nimble competitors have emerged. labor isofm In its early days, Apple didn’t Pizza Hut HewlettBethlehem Hewlettethlehem cilities in Asia anda cilities ininAsia Eastern Europe, visitiMac the company’s iMac plant Elk and visit the company’s plant in Elk ing a shift change, his car was stuck in a pense of Apple was provided with extensive 378,000 look beyond its own backyard for manuPackard Steel Packard eel in Mexico and Bra in Mexico and Brazil, and it assemb Grove, Calif. mists say Grove, Calif. river of employees streaming past. Bank of supply c 324,600 summaries of The New York Times’s re-facturing 138,300 324,600 38,300 solutions. A few years after Chrysler an estimated estimated 40 percent of ponents the 40 worp by 2004, had an largely turned mericans 2004, Apple had largely turned “The scaleApple is unimaginable,” heAmerica said. porting for this article, but the company,Apple began building But the by Macintosh in But 105,400 consumer electron 288,000 consumer electronics to foreign manufacturing. Guiding300 that workers toJobs foreign manufacturing. Guiding that Foxconn employs nearly guards for customers compani which has a reputationTarget for secrecy, de-1983, for instance, Mr. that Home bragged Amazon, Dell, He International Home Amazon, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, ernational stopped decision was Apple’s operations expert, decision was Apple’s operations expert, to direct foot traffic so workers are not 355,000 clined to comment. For Mo M it was “a machine that is made in Amerimprovement Telephone improvement lephone rola, Nintendo, N rola, Nintendo, Nokia, Samsung mid-level Timothy D. Cook, who replaced Mr. Timothy D. Cook, who replaced Mr. crushed in doorway bottlenecks. The fa“came doa This article is based on interviews ica.” In 1990, while Mr.retailer Jobs was running & Telegraph retailer Telegraph General Sperry Sony. Sony. ecutives Jobs as chief executive last August, six Jobs as chief executive last August, six cility’s central kitchen cooks an average 321,000 bought by 132,000 mer high with more than three dozen current andNeXT, which 321,000 32,000 Electric Rand was eventually could hir weeks Mr. death. Most “They could hire 3,000 people ov before Mr. Jobs’s death. Most of before three tons ofJobs’s pork and 13 tons of rice a “They tories in former Apple employees and contrac-Apple, the 287,000 105,300 executiveweeks told a reporter that Grocery night,” said Jenniaw other American electronics companies night,” said Jennifer Rigoni, who hey need American electronics companies day. While factories are spotless, the air tors — many of whom requested ano-“I’m as proud of theother faster” retailer factory as I am of Searsalready gonehad Westinghouse Apple’s already gone abroad, andisworldwide Apple, Sears estinghouse generate Apple’s supply worldwide demand m had Apple, 338,000 insideand nearby teahouses hazy with surpasse computer.” As late as 2002, top Ap-abroad, Holding Electricnymity to protect their jobs — as well astheHolding ectric ager untilis2010, bu which at smoke the time was struggling, it but or innoager untilfelt 2010, declined to disc which at the time was struggling, felt it the and stench of cigarettes. economists, manufacturing experts, inthat “w CVS International ple executives occasionally drove two 312,000 114,000 312,000 14,000 specifics of her wo had to grasp every advantage. s losing specifics ofPharmacy herofwork. “What pl had headquarters to grasp everyto advantage. Harvester of their Foxconn Technology has dozens faternational trade specialists, technologyhours northeast theU.S. execu canovernight find 3,000and peop time, as 280,000 part, wasand attractive because can find 3,000 people c HewlettIn part, Asia attractive cilitiesAsia inbecause Asia Eastern Europe, and analysts, academic researchers, em-visit the 104,300 The im company’s iMac plant in was Elk In vince them to live i Packard ce-proud the semiskilled workers there were vince them to live in dorms?” Apple the semiskilled workers there were in Mexico and Brazil, and it assembles ployees at Apple’s suppliers, competcame ob U.S. military Grove, Calif. .S. military 324,600 PepsiCo mid-2007, afte PepsiCo ncluding But that wasn’t driving In mid-2007, after In a month of exp But turned that cheaper. wasn’t Apple. contractor andriving estimated 40 percent of Apple. the world’s itors and corporate partners, and gov- But manded ontractor by 2004, Applecheaper. had largely 294,000 294,000 mentation, Apple hrunk as For technology companies, the cost of 105,700 mentation, Apple’s engineers For technology companies, the cost of 05,700 consumer electronics for customers like ernment officials. Forfina y to foreign manufacturing. Guiding that perfected a method ed. labor is— minimal compared with theaand exApple labor is worth about $400 billion morethe than General Electric perfected method for cutting streng is minimal compared with exHome Amazon, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, MotoPrivately, Apple executives say thedecision was Apple’s avoided operations expert, ened glass so it pense of buying partsNokia, managing xtensive I.B.M.pense But with 63,000 employees worldwide, itand doesn’t comeso itand ened glass could be precision used in c improvement of only buying parts and managing rola, Nintendo, Samsung world is now such a changed place thatTimothy D. Cook, who replaced Mr. iPhone’s screen. T retailer Bank of supply chains that bring iPhone’s together com- The mes’s rescreen. first truckloads Bank of close to appearing on a list of the nation’s biggest employers. supply chains that bring together comSony. it is a mistake to measure a company’s Chrysler was extr Jobs as chief executive last August, six hrysler 321,000 America America cut glass arrived ponents and services from hundreds of ompany, cut glass arrived at Foxconn City in ponents and services from hundreds of 105,400 contribution simply by tallying its em“They could hire 3,000 people over05,400 ple had a weeks before Mr. Jobs’s 288,000death. Most 288,000 dead of to night, acc companies. recy, dedead of night, according the form companies. ployees — though they note that AppleotherThe night,” Rigoni, who was company American companies shift fromelectronics manufacturing means FOR said EVERYJennifer 1,000 ADDITIONAL Applewhen executive. T For Mr. Cook, the focus on Asia Apple executive. That’s manag For Mr. Cook, the focus on Asia employs more workers in the Unitedhad the Sears Apple’s worldwide supply demand manlarge pan JOBS CREATED IN: JOBS CREATED already and creating Apple, loss ofgone a “jobabroad, multiplier,” A Shift From Manufacturing A Shift From Manufacturing 1960 ted States Lost Out on iPhone Work ift From Manufacturing 0 1960 1960 2010 2010 2010 2010 Privately, Apple executives say the rld is now such a changed place that s a mistake to measure a company’s ntribution simply by tallying its emyees — though they note that Apple mploys more workers in the United ates than ever before. They say Apple’s success has beneed the economy by empowering enpreneurs and creating jobs at compas like cellular providers and busisses shipping Apple products. And, imately, they say curing unemployent is not their job. “We sell iPhones in over a hundred untries,” a current Apple executive d. “We don’t have an obligation to ve America’s problems. Our only obation is making the best product posle.” Want a Glass Screen’ In 2007, a little over a month before e iPhone was scheduled to appear in res, Mr. Jobs beckoned a handful of utenants into an office. For weeks, he vid Barboza, Peter Lattman and therine Rampell contributed reportg. I.B.M. But with only 63,000 employees worldwide, it doesn’t come close to appearing on a list of the nation’s biggest employers. The shift from manufacturing means the loss of a “job multiplier,” creating new jobs in other industries, like construction, transportation and retailing. When an auto company hires 1,000 new workers, for instance, it creates more than four times as many additional jobs for marketers, managers, parts manufacturers and car salesmen. Service sector and retail jobs, on the other hand, are not big job multipliers. In general, while jobs for professionals and service employees have grown, jobs for everyone else, like office clerks and factory workers, have shrunk. For example, General Electric is the only company on the list of biggest employers in both decades. But today, its single largest unit by revenue is GE Capital, which sells financial services. FOR EVERY 1,000 JOBS CREATED IN: Retailing 240 Hospitals 670 Computer systems design services 1,190 Motor vehicle manufacturing 4,710 Steel product manufacturing 11,890 CHANGE IN JOBS, 2000-10 Service jobs, +12.0% +10% 5 -5 Sources: S&P Capital IQ (list of largest employers); Bureau of Labor Statistics ‘I Want a Glass Screen’ In 2007, a little over a month before the iPhone was scheduled to appear in stores, Mr. Jobs beckoned a handful of lieutenants into an office. For weeks, he had been carrying a prototype of the device in his pocket. Mr. Jobs angrily held up his iPhone, angling it so everyone could see the dozens of tiny scratches marring its plastic screen, according to someone who attended the meeting. He then pulled his keys from his jeans. People will carry this phone in their pocket, he said. People also carry their keys in their pocket. “I won’t sell a product that gets scratched,” he said tensely. The only solution was using unscratchable glass instead. “I want a Managers and professionals, +7.9% 0 –10% now such a changed place that it is a mistake to measure a company’s contribution simply by tallying its employees — though they note that Apple employs more workers in the United States than ever before. They say Apple’s success has benefited the economy by empowering entrepreneurs and creating jobs at companies like cellular providers and businesses shipping Apple products. And, ultimately, they say curing unemployment is not their job. “We sell iPhones in over a hundred countries,” a current Apple executive said. “We don’t have an obligation to solve America’s problems. Our only obligation is making the best product possible.” ADDITIONAL JOBS CREATED All other jobs, including sales, construction, transportation, –11.7% THE NEW YORK TIMES avoided using glass because it re precision in cutting and grindin was extremely difficult to achiev ple had already selected an Am company, Corning Inc., to manuf large panes of strengthened gla figuring out how to cut those pan millions of iPhone screens re finding an empty cutting plant dreds of pieces of glass to use in ments and an army of midleve neers. It would cost a fortune sim prepare. Then a bid for the work arrive a Chinese factory. When an Apple team visited, t nese plant’s owners were alread structing a new wing. “This is i you give us the contract,” the m said, according to a former Apple utive. The Chinese governmen agreed to underwrite costs for n ous industries, and those subsidi trickled down to the glass-cuttin tory. It had a warehouse fille glass samples available to Apple, charge. The owners made eng available at almost no cost. The built on-site dormitories so emp would be available 24 hours a day The Chinese plant got the job. glass screen, and I want it perfect in six weeks.” After one executive left that meeting, he booked a flight to Shenzhen, China. If Mr. Jobs wanted perfect, there was nowhere else to go. For over two years, the company had been working on a project — code-named Purple 2 — that presented the same questions at every turn: how do you completely reimagine the cellphone? And how do you design it at the highest quality — with an unscratchable screen, for instance — while also ensuring that millions can be manufactured quickly and inexpensively enough to earn a significant profit? The answers, almost every time, were found outside the United States. Though components differ between versions, all iPhones contain hundreds of parts, an estimated 90 percent of which are manufactured abroad. Advanced semiconductors have come from Germany and Taiwan, memory from Korea and Japan, display panels and circuitry from Korea and Taiwan, chipsets from Europe and rare metals from Africa and Asia. And all of it is put together in China. In its early days, Apple usually didn’t look beyond its own backyard for manufacturing solutions. A few years after Apple began building the Macintosh in 1983, for instance, Mr. Jobs bragged that it was “a machine that is made in America.” In 1990, while Mr. Jobs was running NeXT, which was eventually bought by Apple, the executive told a reporter that “I’m as proud of the factory as I am of the computer.” As late as 2002, top Apple executives occasionally drove two hours northeast of their headquarters to visit the company’s iMac plant in Elk Grove, Calif. But by 2004, Apple had largely turned to foreign manufacturing. Guiding that decision was Apple’s operations expert, Timothy D. Cook, who replaced Mr. Jobs as chief executive last August, six weeks before Mr. Jobs’s death. Most other American electronics companies had already gone abroad, and Apple, which at the time was struggling, felt it had to grasp every advantage. In part, Asia was attractive because the semiskilled workers there were cheaper. But that wasn’t driving Apple. For technology companies, the cost of labor is minimal compared with the expense of buying parts and managing supply chains that bring together components and services from hundreds of companies. For Mr. Cook, the focus on Asia “came down to two things,” said one former high-ranking Apple executive. Factories in Asia “can scale up and down faster” and “Asian supply chains have surpassed what’s in the U.S.” The result is that “we can’t compete at this point,” the executive said. The impact of such advantages became obvious as soon as Mr. Jobs demanded glass screens in 2007. For years, cellphone makers had avoided using glass because it required precision in cutting and grinding that was extremely difficult to achieve. Apple had already selected an American company, Corning Inc., to manufacture large panes of strengthened glass. But figuring out how to cut those panes into millions of iPhone screens required finding an empty cutting plant, hundreds of pieces of glass to use in experiments and an army of midlevel engineers. It would cost a fortune simply to prepare. Then a bid for the work arrived from a Chinese factory. When an Apple team visited, the Chinese plant’s owners were already constructing a new wing. “This is in case you give us the contract,” the manager said, according to a former Apple executive. The Chinese government had agreed to underwrite costs for numerous industries, and those subsidies had trickled down to the glass-cutting factory. It had a warehouse filled with glass samples available to Apple, free of charge. The owners made engineers available at almost no cost. They had built on-site dormitories so employees would be available 24 hours a day. The Chinese plant got the job. “The entire supply chain is in China now,” said another former high-ranking Apple executive. “You need a thousand rubber gaskets? That’s the factory next door. You need a million screws? That factory is a block away. You need that screw made a little bit different? It will take three hours.” In Foxconn City An eight-hour drive from that glass factory is a complex, known informally as Foxconn City, where the iPhone is assembled. To Apple executives, Foxconn City was further evidence that China could deliver workers — and diligence — that outpaced their American counterparts. That’s because nothing like Foxconn City exists in the United States. The facility has 230,000 employees, many working six days a week, often spending up to 12 hours a day at the plant. Over a quarter of Foxconn’s work force lives in company barracks and many workers earn less than $17 a day. When one Apple executive arrived during a shift change, his car was stuck in a river of employees streaming past. “The scale is unimaginable,” he said. Foxconn employs nearly 300 guards to direct foot traffic so workers are not crushed in doorway bottlenecks. The facility’s central kitchen cooks an average of three tons of pork and 13 tons of rice a day. While factories are spotless, the air inside nearby teahouses is hazy with the smoke and stench of cigarettes. Foxconn Technology has dozens of facilities in Asia and Eastern Europe, and in Mexico and Brazil, and it assembles an estimated 40 percent of the world’s consumer electronics for customers like Amazon, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Motorola, Nintendo, Nokia, Samsung and Sony. “They could hire 3,000 people overnight,” said Jennifer Rigoni, who was Apple’s worldwide supply demand manager until 2010, but declined to discuss specifics of her work. “What U.S. plant can find 3,000 people overnight and convince them to live in dorms?” In mid-2007, after a month of experimentation, Apple’s engineers finally perfected a meth- ventually iniPhones. The forecast it ne months to engineers in say the chalnts is finding said Martin t at the Masechnology. In they need engh school, but lor’s degree. el are hard to They’re good doesn’t have emand,” Mr. iPhone are device’s softts innovative e largely cres. Apple redata center in miconductors are manufacctory by Sam- THE NEW YORK TIMES NATIONAL SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012 Ø a recent Oct Saragoza sat mitted anothe halfway arou rived at her o is a project m na, at PCH tracts with A companies to accessories, l the iPad’s gla Apple employ gral to Apple’ ucts. Mrs. Lin e Mr. Saragoza speaks fluen watching tele university. Sh quarter of the ery month. T foot apartme their in-laws a “There are “Especially in Innovation Toward the ner last year Silicon Valley are not enorstood to leave pple’s North ABOVE, THOMAS LEE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES; AT LEFT, JIM WILSON/THE NEW YORK TIMES formed aroun nce, has only smaller scru The Samsung In China, Lina Lin Jobs. Rumors 0 workers. is a project had worsene lling one milmanager at PCH photograph w phones, you International, last time. ogrammers,” Eventually, which contracts who oversaw overlapped. “ with Apple. “There marketing for country’s lon All these new are lots of jobs,” she told Mr. Oba oogle, Twitter said. “Especially in server. “This row, but they Shenzhen.” In What I’m wor uch.” California, Eric talk enough a w much more Saragoza joined At dinner, f hones in the Apple as an had suggest various acashould reform engineer in 1995, g analysts escompanies hi or is such a but as more work had urged the manufacturoccurred overseas, nies a “tax ho es would add he was laid off. back oversea ne’s expense. gued, would b ten hundreds Jobs even su lding domessible, someda still give the ple’s skilled m . ed States if th e, in many remore Americ use building Economists States would those and oth hiring Ameriod for cutting strengthened glass so it could be about specific clients. struggling ec transforming degree, was vulnerable to these trends. Some of that by wealth has goneistocovarms,iPhone’s conveyor belts ferrying cir-first formed by u usedbotic in the screen. The truckloads “Any worker recruited our firm onomies. Apshareholders. Apple is among the most cuit boards and, eventually, candy-colFirst, some of Elk Grove’s routine tasks The last tim e simply areof cut glass Foxconn in the dead Mr.ered by didn’t a clear contract outlining terms widely held stocks, and the rising share and ored iMacsarrived in various at stages of assem-City were sent overseas. Saragoza hands about kers with the priceChinese has benefited millions of individbly. Mr.according Saragoza, an to engineer, quickly Apple mind. Then the robotics that made Apemployment, of night, the former execuconditions and by government law that or factories ual investors, 401(k)’s and pension moved up the plant’s ranks and joined ple a futuristic playground allowed ex1980s, the Int nd flexibility. tive.anThat’s when team. managers wokeecutives thousands protects company wrote. plans. Thethe bounty has also enriched Ap-Foxelite diagnostic His salary to replace workers withtheir ma- rights,” at the time w k with Apple, workers. Last fiscal addition climbed to $50,000. He and hisinto wife had Some — diagnostic of workers, who crawled theirchines. uniforms connengineering “takes ourpleresponsibility toyear, ourinemployees degree in gr hey must go to their salaries, Apple’s employees and three children. They bought a home went to Singapore. Middle managers becoming a s white and black shirts for men, red for women very seriously and we work hard to give our directors received stock worth $2 billion with a pool. who oversaw the plant’s inventory were telephone rep r the iPhone exercised or vested stock op- and What rema “It quickly felt like, finally, school laid off a few peopleoneand — and lined upwas to paying assemble, bybecause, hand,suddenly, more than million employees a and safe in Kentucky, tions worth an added $1.4 billion. he said. “I knew the world needed Internet connections were all that whether the ss in iPhones the off,” phones. Within three months,with Apple positive environment.” The biggest rewards, however, have people who can build things.” were needed.had to leverage to he iPhone beoftendisputed gone to Apple’s employees. At themillion same time, however, the elec- then, Mr.Foxconn Saragoza was too expensive for one iPhones. Since The company sometopdetails of the millions of job g received sold a Mr. Cook, Apple’s chief, last year reindustry was changing, and Apan unskilled position. He was also insufIn the last d er companies has tronics assembled over 200 million more. former Apple executive’s account, and wrote ceived stock grants — which vest over a ple — with products that were declining ficiently credentialed for upper manin solar and designs. Its 10-year today’s share Foxconn, statements, to speak that shift, period such—asthat, theatone described, in popularity in — was struggling todeclined reagement. He was called into aa midnight small oftor fabricatio ave grown to price, would be worth $427 million, and make itself. One focus was improving fice in 2002 after a night shift, laid off have created ear, and it has his salary was raised to $1.4 million. In manufacturing. A few years after Mr. and then escorted from the plant. He while many o loying about 2010, Mr. Cook’s compensation package Saragoza started his job, his bosses extaught high school for a while, and then in America, rt the emerg- was impossible “because we have strict regulations regarding the working hours of our employees based on their designated shifts, and every employee has computerized timecards that would bar them from working at any facility at a time outside of their approved shift.” The company said that all shifts began at either 7 a.m. or 7 p.m., and that employees receive at least 12 hours’ notice of any schedule changes. Foxconn employees, in interviews, have challenged those assertions. Another critical advantage for Apple was that China provided engineers at a scale the United States could not match. Apple’s executives had estimated that about 8,700 industrial engineers were needed to oversee and guide the 200,000 assembly-line workers eventually involved in manufacturing iPhones. The company’s analysts had forecast it would take as long as nine months to find that many qualified engineers in the United States. In China, it took 15 days. Companies like Apple “say the challenge in setting up U.S. plants is finding a technical work force,” said Martin Schmidt, associate provost at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In particular, companies say they need engineers with more than high school, but not necessarily a bachelor’s degree. Americans at that skill level are hard to find, executives contend. “They’re good jobs, but the country doesn’t have enough to feed the demand,” Mr. Schmidt said. Some aspects of the iPhone are uniquely American. The device’s software, for instance, and its innovative marketing campaigns were largely created in the United States. Apple recently built a $500 million data center in North Carolina. Crucial semiconductors inside the iPhone 4 and 4S are manufactured in an Austin, Tex., factory by Samsung, of South Korea. But even those facilities are not enormous sources of jobs. Apple’s North Carolina center, for instance, has only 100 full-time employees. The Samsung plant has an estimated 2,400 workers. “If you scale up from selling one million phones to 30 million phones, you don’t really need more programmers,” said Jean-Louis Gassée, who oversaw product development and marketing for Apple until he left in 1990. “All these new companies — Facebook, Google, Twitter — benefit from this. They grow, but they don’t really need to hire much.” It is hard to estimate how much more it would cost to build iPhones in the United States. However, various academics and manufacturing analysts estimate that because labor is such a small part of technology manufacturing, paying American wages would add up to $65 to each iPhone’s expense. Since Apple’s profits are often hundreds of dollars per phone, building domestically, in theory, would still give the company a healthy reward. But such calculations are, in many respects, meaningless because building the iPhone in the United States would demand much more than hiring Americans — it would require transforming the national and global economies. Apple executives believe there simply aren’t enough American workers with the skills the company needs or factories with sufficient speed and flexibility. Other companies that work with Apple, like Corning, also say they must go abroad. Manufacturing glass for the iPhone revived a Corning factory in Kentucky, and today, much of the glass in iPhones is still made there. After the iPhone became a success, Corning received a flood of orders from other companies hoping to imitate Apple’s designs. Its strengthened glass sales have grown to more than $700 million a year, and it has hired or continued employing about 1,000 Americans to support the emerging market. But as that market has expanded, the bulk of Corning’s strengthened glass manufacturing has occurred at plants in Japan and Taiwan. “Our customers are in Taiwan, Korea, Japan and China,” said James B. Flaws, Corning’s vice chairman and chief financial officer. “We could make the glass here, and then ship it by boat, but that takes 35 days. Or, we could ship it by air, but that’s 10 times as expensive. So we build our glass factories next door to assembly factories, and those are overseas.” Corning was founded in America 161 years ago and its headquarters are still in upstate New York. Theoretically, the company could manufacture all its glass domestically. But it would “require a total overhaul in how the industry is structured,” Mr. Flaws said. “The consumer electronics business has become an Asian business. As an American, I worry about that, but there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Asia has become what the U.S. was for the last 40 years.” Middle-Class Jobs Fade The first time Eric Saragoza stepped into Apple’s manufacturing plant in Elk Grove, Calif., he felt as if he were entering an engineering wonderland. It was 1995, and the facility near Sacramento employed more than 1,500 workers. It was a kaleidoscope of robotic arms, conveyor belts ferrying circuit boards and, eventually, candycolored iMacs in various stages of assembly. Mr. Saragoza, an engineer, quickly moved up the plant’s ranks and joined an elite diagnostic team. His salary climbed to $50,000. He and his wife had three children. They bought a home with a pool. “It felt like, finally, school was paying off,” he said. “I knew the world needed people who can build things.” At the same time, however, the electronics industry was changing, and Apple — with products that were declining in popularity — was struggling to remake itself. One focus was improving manufacturing. A few years after Mr. Saragoza started his job, his bosses explained how the California plant stacked up against overseas factories: the cost, excluding the materials, of building a $1,500 computer in Elk Grove was $22 a machine. In Singapore, it was $6. In Taiwan, $4.85. Wages weren’t the major reason for the disparities. Rather it was costs like inventory and how long it took workers to finish a task. “We were told we would have to do 12-hour days, and come in on Saturdays,” Mr. Saragoza said. “I had a family. I wanted to see my kids play soccer.” Modernization has always caused some kinds of jobs to change or disappear. As the American economy transitioned from agriculture to manufacturing and then to other industries, farmers became steelworkers, and then salesmen and middle managers. These shifts have carried many economic benefits, and in general, with each progression, even unskilled workers received better wages and greater chances at upward mobility. But in the last two decades, something more fundamental has changed, economists say. Midwage jobs started disappearing. Particularly among Americans without college degrees, today’s new jobs are disproportionately in service occupations — at restaurants or call centers, or as hospital attendants or temporary workers — that offer fewer opportunities for reaching the middle class. Even Mr. Saragoza, with his college degree, was vulnerable to these trends. First, some of Elk Grove’s routine tasks were sent overseas. Mr. Saragoza didn’t mind. Then the robotics that made Apple a futuristic playground allowed executives to replace workers with machines. Some diagnostic engineering went to Singapore. Middle managers who oversaw the plant’s inventory were laid off because, suddenly, a few people with Internet connections were all that were needed. Mr. Saragoza was too expensive for an unskilled position. He was also insufficiently credentialed for upper management. He was called into a small office in 2002 after a night shift, laid off and then escorted from the plant. He taught high school for a while, and then tried a return to technology. But Apple, which had helped anoint the region as “Silicon Valley North,” had by then converted much of the Elk Grove plant into an AppleCare call center, where new employees often earn $12 an hour. There were employment prospects in Silicon Valley, but none of them panned out. “What they really want are 30-year-olds without children,” said Mr. Saragoza, who today is 48, and whose family now includes five of his own. After a few months of looking for work, he started feeling desperate. Even teaching jobs had dried up. So he took a position with an electronics temp agency that had been hired by Apple to check returned iPhones and iPads before they were sent back to customers. Every day, Mr. Saragoza would drive to the building where he had once worked as an engineer, and for $10 an hour with no benefits, wipe thousands of glass screens and test audio ports by plugging in headphones. Paydays for Apple As Apple’s overseas operations and sales have expanded, its top employees have thrived. Last fiscal year, Apple’s revenue topped $108 billion, a sum larger than the combined state budgets of Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Since 2005, when the company’s stock split, share prices have risen from about $45 to more than $427. Some of that wealth has gone to sharehold- class. stacked stock share prices have employed than 1,500 the tried a return to technology. But ramento Apple, security fili has occurred abroad. Companies have up against more overseas factories: cost, which had helped anoint the region assplit,Apple’s has occurred abroad. Companies have But as that market has expanded, thethe Apple’s security actories: cost, had helped the as as closed major facilities inconthe United Apple’s security shefactories: the cost, Apple’s filings. which had helped anoint region cost, thewhich Even Saragoza, with hismajor college about $45 to more than close $427. t workers. It was asecurity kaleidoscope of filings. ro-filings. hadwhich helped anoint theanoint region as region closed facilities in the United A person excluding the materials, of building a Mr. “Silicon Valley North,” had by closed major facilities in thethen United bulk of Corning’s strengthened glass A person close to Apple argued that als, of building a “Silicon Valley North,” had by by then conStates to reopen in China. way of exA in person close to Apple that erials, aValley “Silicon Valley North,” had then conA person close toElk Apple argued thata argued lding aof building “Silicon North,” had by then conStates to inplant China. way ofcompensation exthe $1,500 computer Grove was $22 verted much of the Elkreopen Grove into States to reopen in China. By way ofBy ex-By manufacturing has occurred at plants in plant thethe compensation received by by Apple’s kas Grove $22$22 a a verted much of the Elk Grove into planation, executives saysay they areemployees comcompensation received Apple’s Elk Grove was verted much of the Elk Grove plant into In the compensation received by Apple’s $22 a was planation, executives they are com- was fair verted much of the Elk Grove plant into machine. Singapore, it was $6. In Taiplanation, executives say they are coman AppleCare call center, where new Japan and Taiwan. employees was fair, in part because the ,ore, it was $6. In Taian AppleCare call center, where new peting with Apple forfor shareholders. If If had brou employees wasbecause fair, part the it was $6. Taian call AppleCare call center, employees fair, in part the because . In Taipeting with Apple shareholders. an In AppleCare center, where new where company wan,new $4.85.was Wages weren’t the inmajor peting with Apple for shareholders. If employees often earn $12 an hour. “Our customers areoften inoften Taiwan, Korea, company hadhad so so much value to to they major employees earn $12 an an hour. cannot rival Apple’s growth and company brought much value weren’t major employees earn $12 hour. company had brought sobrought much value to eeren’t majorthethe they cannot rival Apple’s growth and and wo employees often earn $12 an hour. reason for the disparities. Rather it was the nation they cannot rival Apple’s growth and There were employment prospects in Japan and China,” said James B. Flaws, Rather it was the nation andand world. As As the company There were employment prospects inlike profit margins, they won’t survive. arities. Rather it was the nation ries. it was the nation and world. theworld. company There were employment prospects in inventory profit margins, they won’t survive. has grown, it has e costs andAs how long it tookthe company There were employment prospects in profit they won’t Siliconmargins, Valley, but none of survive. them panned Corning’s vice chairman and chief fihas grown, it has expanded its domestic d how long it took Valley, but none of them panned “New middle-class jobs willwill eventuhow long it took Silicon has grown, ithas hasgrown, expanded itsexpanded domestic its domestic gand it took Silicon Valley, but none of them panned “New middle-class jobs eventuwork force, inclu workers to finish a task. it has Silicon but“We none of them panned “New middle-class jobs eventuout. “What they really wantwill are 30-yearnancialValley, officer. could make the work force, including manufacturing k. out. “What they really want areare 30-yearallyally emerge,” said Lawrence Katz, aLast work force, including manufacturing ask. work force, including manufacturing out. “What they really want 30-yearemerge,” said Lawrence Katz, a year, Ap jobs. “We were told we would have to do out. “What they really want are 30-yearally emerge,” said Lawrence Katz, a olds without children,” said Mr. Saragoglass andwithout then ship it by boat, but jobs. Last year, Apple’s American work would to to dohere, children,” said Mr.Mr. SaragoHarvard economist. “But willwill someone jobs. Last year, American worktoday would have do olds jobs. Lastdays, year, Apple’s American work e to dohave olds without children,” said SaragoHarvard economist. “But someone force grew by 8,000 12-hour and come inApple’s on Saturolds without children,” said Mr. SaragoHarvard economist. “But will someone za, who is 48, and whose family that takes 35 days. Or, we could ship it force grew by 8,000 people. me in in on on Saturza,za, who today iswhose 48, and whose family his 40s40s have the skills for them? Or Orother com force by “I 8,000 come force grew 8,000grew people. Saturtoday is 48, and whose family infive his have skills them? days,” Mr. by Saragoza said. hadpeople. a famWhile za, Saturwhobut today iswho 48, and family in hisincludes 40s in have the skills forthe them? Orfor now of his own. that’s 10 times asofexpensive. “I had abyfamWhile other companies have sent callcall willwill now includes fivefive his own. he he be be bypassed for a new graduate “I had aair, famWhile other companies sent daaid. asaid. famWhile other companies have sent callhave now includes of his own. bypassed for a new graduate centers abroad, Ap ily. I wanted to see my kids play soccer.” now includes five of his own. will he be bypassed for a new graduate After a few months of looking for So we buildAfter our aglass factories of next centers abroad, Apple hascenkept its its cenkids play soccer.” and never findfind hishis way back into the few looking forforabroad, centers abroad, Apple has kept cenmy kids play soccer.” centers Apple has kept its soccer.” and never way into a few months of looking ters inthe the United S and never find his way back into theback Modernization has always caused After aassembly few After months ofmonths looking for work, he started feeling desperate. door to factories, and those in the United States. One source es-es- middle always class?” started feeling ters in the United States. One source has alwayscaused caused ters inkinds theters United States. One source esmiddle caused work,he he started feelingdesperate. desperate. timated that sales middle class?” some of jobs to change or disapwork, he work, started feeling desperate. Even teaching jobs class?” had dried up. So he are overseas.” timated sales ofproducts Apple’s products or or disapThe pace of of innovation, saysay execuEven teaching jobs had dried up.up. So So heAs timated sales of Apple’s products todisapchange disaptimated that salesthat ofthat Apple’s rchange The pace innovation, execuEven teaching jobs had dried he have caused othe pear. the American economy transiThe pace of innovation, say execuEven teaching jobs had dried up. 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FedEx ture to manufacturtens of to thousands Americans. ufacturbeen quickened businessmen like Parcel agency hired Apple and United ing and thentens to other industries, farmbeen quickened by businessmen like agency thatNew had beenthat hired bybeen Apple to check returned iPhones and iPads bein upstate York. Theoretically, the and United Parcel Service, for instance, industries, farmMr. Jobs. G.M. went long halfhalf asay check returned iPhones and iPads and United Parcel Service, instance, her industries, farmand United Service, forand instance, s, farmMr. Jobs. G.M. went as long a they hav check returned iPhones and iPads be- Parcel both ersbebecame steelworkers, then forDISPLAYS Mr. G.M. went as long asas half a as as check returned iPhones and iPads before Jobs. they were sent back to customers. SEMICONDUCTORS (CHIPS) company could manufacture all its glass say they have created American rkers, then decade between major automobile re-because fore they were sent back to customers. both say they have created American workers, then both say both they have created American decade between major automobile red thenandand fore they were sent back to customers. jobs of th salesmen and middle managers. These decade between major automobile refore they were sent back to customers. Every day, Mr. Saragoza would drive to domestically. Butday, it would “require would a to- drive to jobsofbecause of of theof volume of of Apple’s managers. These designs. by by comparison, re-re- though Mr.Mr. Saragoza because the volume Apple’s dle managers. These jobs because the volume Apple’s designs. Apple, comparison, has . These shipments, Every day, Saragoza would drive to designs. Apple, by Apple, comparison, has re- has shifts have jobs carried many economic Every day,Every Mr. Saragoza would drive to the building where he had once worked tal overhaul in how the industry is shipments, though neither would promany economic fivefive in four years, douthewhere building where he worked hadhad once worked shipments, though neither d many economic shipments, though neither would proleased iPhones indoufour years, douonomic vide specific figure the building where he once worked and leased fiveleased iPhones iniPhones four years, benefits, in general, with each pro- would the building he had once as anproengineer, and for $10 an hour with structured,” Mr.engineer, Flaws said. “The convide specific figures without permission al, each probling thethe devices’ speed andand memory as an and for $10 an an hour with vide specific figures without permission neral, with each provide specific figures without permission bling devices’ speed memory ch with profrom Apple, whic as an engineer, and for $10 hour with bling the devices’ speed and memory gression, even unskilled workers reas an engineer, and for $10 an hour with no benefits, wipe thousands of glass sumer electronics business has become jobs in the U.S. jobs in South Korea jobs in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, from Apple, which the company delled workers rewhile dropping the price that some conbenefits, wipe thousands of from glass from Apple, whichgreater thede-company de-and while skilled re- no no Apple, which the company dropping the price that some coners re- workers clined to provide. benefits, wipe thousands of glass while dropping theaudio price that some conceived better wages and no benefits, wipe thousands of glass screens test ports by plugand other Asian countries Japan, Europe and elsewhere an Asian business. As an American, I clined to provide. es andandgreater sumers pay. screens andand test audio ports byclined plugclined to provide. ages greaterand to at provide. sumers pay. greater sumers pay. screens test audio ports by plugchances upward mobility. “We shouldn’t b screens test audio ports by plugging in headphones. worry about that, but there’s nothing I bility. “We shouldn’t be be criticized forfor using Mr. Obama andand Mr.Mr. Jobs said ging in headphones. mobility. “We shouldn’t criticized using Mr.Before “We shouldn’t be criticized for using Before Mr. Obama Jobs saidworkers,” ging in headphones. Chinese Before Obama and Mr. Jobs said But in the last two decades, someging in headphones. can do to stop it. Asia has becomeDreamed what up in California Chinese workers,” a current Apple execotwo decades, somegoodbye, Apple executive ansaid. An industry outsourced industry lost Chinese workers,” a current execdecades, someChinese workers,” a current Apple exec-AnApple goodbye, the Apple executive pulled an “The U someutive goodbye, the Apple the executive pulled an pulled thing more fundamental has changed, the U.S. was for the last 40 years.” Paydays for Apple utive said. “The U.S. hashas stopped protal hashas changed, iPhone from his pocket to semiconductor show off off a people utive said. “The U.S. stopped pro-from mental changed, Paydays for Apple Apple once iPhone from his pocket to show awas with utive said. “The U.S. has stopped prohanged, iPhone his pocket to show off a ducing economists say. 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The other executives, disproportionately in American jobs inside its have Last fiscal Apple’s room’s ately in jobs inside its retail stores have thrived. Lastthrived. fiscal year, room’s lights. 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On about $45 to more than $427. the screen. Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Texas, most of its other chips are manufacturing has outpaced The iPhone: Designed in the U.S. … 43,000 China and elsewhere. … Made Overseas … 5,000 – 10,000 7,000 – 20,000 American capabilities. made abroad. The iPhone: Designed…in the U.S. … … Made Overseas … in China …… Made …… Assembled MadeOverseas Overseas Assembled inandChina Paul Semenza, senior vice president, Analyst Services, DisplaySearch, Group Company; Linleyin Gwennap, founder principal analyst, the Linley … Made Overseas … Sources:… …an NPD Assembled China SEMICONDUCTORS SEMICONDUCTORS (CHIPS) SEMICONDUCTORS (CHIPS) (CHIPS) DISPLAYS BATTERIES BATTERIES BATTERIES SEMICONDUCTORS (CHIPS) ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY BATTERIES 43,000 –1,000 10,000 20,000 000 – –20,000 – –1,000 200,000 ,0007,0007,000 20,000 5,000 300 1,000 7,000 –200,000 200,000 300 – 1,00 –7,000 20,000 300 –300 jobs in the U.S. jobsjobs in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, rea in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, jobs in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, es Japan, andand elsewhere ntries Japan, Europe elsewhere Japan, Europe andEurope elsewhere jobs in South Korea jobs in China jobs in China China and jobs otherinAsian countries Dreamed up in California An industry lost Anoutsourced industry outsourced Noup catching up up st An industry outsourced No catching An industry No catching Apple once boasted that America was once a leader The semiconductor was Sony helped develop thethe aader leader The semiconductor was Sony helped develop The semiconductor was Sonyinhelped develop the its products were television and other essentially in the United er lithium-ion battery in the other essentially invented in the United lithium-ion battery in the essentially invented ininvented thethe United lithium-ion battery in the manufactured in display manufacturing. States. Then foreign nations g. early 1980s for for useuse in its uring. States. Then foreign nations early in its States. Then foreign early 1980s for use in its United States. No nations longer. Today, virtually no1980s displays discovered thatthat semiconductor lays consumer electronics displays discovered semiconductor discovered that semiconductor consumer Specifics differ between are madeelectronics in consumer the Unitedelectronics manufacturing could jump-start ed devices, including thethe United manufacturing could jump-start devices, including manufacturing could devices, including the versions, butjump-start an States. They mostly come technology industries. In the ome Walkman. Japan came to to y come technology industries. In the Walkman. came technology industries. In the Walkman. came toJapan estimated 90 percent of from Asia,Japan especially South 1960s, assembly waswas outsourced dominate thethe manufacturing youth South 1960s,iPhone 1960s, assembly outsourced dominate manufacturing assembly was outsourced dominate the manufacturing components are Korea and Japan, where to Asia. Higher-skilled soon ere of these batteries. Energizer where to Asia. to Asia. Higher-skilled soon of these of these batteries. Energizer Higher-skilled jobs soon jobsjobs batteries. Energizer manufactured overseas, wages are not much followed. Although the latest h built a battery factory in much followed. Although the latest built a battery followed. Although the latest built a battery factory in by workers in Germany, cheaper but technical factory in iPhone processor is made in al Florida in the 1990s, but rawraw nical iPhone processor Florida the 1990s, but iPhone processor is made in is made in Florida in the 1990s, but raw Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, manufacturing hasin outpaced most of its other chips areare material costs aced Texas, mostTexas, material costs andand labor rates utpaced Texas, most of its other chips material costs labor rates of its other chips are and labor rates China and elsewhere. American capabilities. made abroad. s. made unable to compete. ities. made abroad. made it unable to compete. made abroad. made it unable toitcompete. jobs in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, jobsjobs in China in China jobselsewhere in China Japan, Europe and jobs in China An industry outsourced No catching up It’s notnot just cheap labor It’s just cheap labor It’s not just cheap labor The semiconductor was Sony helped develop The iPhone is assembled by by iPhone is assembled in China The iPhone is The assembled in China byin China essentially invented in the United lithium-ion battery in Foxconn, the largest electronics assembler Foxconn, the largest electronics assembler Foxconn, the largest electronics assembler States. Then foreign nations early 1980s for use in U.S. the world. U.S.U.S. executives they in the world. they in the world. executives sayexecutives they saysay discovered that semiconductor consumer electron cannot function without companies likelike cannot function without cannot function without companies likecompanies manufacturing could jump-start devices, including Foxconn. TheThe Taiwanese company 1.21.2 Foxconn. company Foxconn. The Taiwanese has 1.2 hashas technology industries. In company theTaiwanese Walkman. Japan cam million workers, many willing to live in in million workers, willing todominate live million workers, many willing tomany live in 1960s, assembly was outsourced the manufa company dorms and spend hours in ain a company dorms spend hours dorms andjobs spend 12and hours in12 a 12 to company Asia. Higher-skilled soon of these batteries. En factory, six days a week. Chinese workers factory, days a week. Chinese workers factory, six days a week. Chinese workers followed. Although thesix latest built a battery facto are cheaper than their American cheaper than their American areprocessor cheaper than theirinAmerican iPhone isare made Florida in the 1990s, b counterparts — but just as important, they counterparts important, theycosts and labo counterparts — but just as — important, they Texas, most of its other chips arebut just as material are more flexible and plentiful, and are more flexible plentiful, and are made more flexible and plentiful, and abroad. made it unable to com can be be hired overnight. can hired overnight. thousands thousands canthousands be hired overnight. Sources: Paul Semenza, senior vice president, Analyst Services, DisplaySearch, an NPD Group Company; Linley Gwennap, founder and principal analyst, the Linley Group; Ron Turi, owner, Element 3 Battery Ven up Company; Linley Gwennap, founder and and principal analyst, the Linley Group; RonRon Turi,Turi, owner, Element 3 Battery Venture; Wayne Lam,Lam, IHS IHS iSuppli THE NEW YORK TIMES Group Company; Linley Gwennap, founder principal the Linley Group; Battery Venture; Wayne iSuppli THE NEW YORK TIMES inley Gwennap, founder and principal analyst, the Linley analyst, Group; Ron Turi, owner, Element 3 owner, BatteryElement Venture;3Wayne Lam, IHS iSuppli THE NEW YORK TIMES ers. Apple is among the most widely held stocks, and the rising share price has benefited millions of individual investors, 401(k)’s and pension plans. The bounty has also enriched Apple workers. Last fiscal year, in addition to their salaries, Apple’s employees and directors received stock worth $2 billion and exercised or vested stock and options worth an added $1.4 billion. The biggest rewards, however, have often gone to Apple’s top employees. Mr. Cook, Apple’s chief, last year received stock grants — which vest over a 10-year period — that, at today’s share price, would be worth $427 million, and his salary was raised to $1.4 million. In 2010, Mr. Cook’s compensation package was valued at $59 million, according to Apple’s security filings. A person close to Apple argued that the compensation received by Apple’s employees was fair, in part because the company had brought so much value to the nation and world. As the company has grown, it has expanded its domestic work force, including manufacturing jobs. Last year, Apple’s American work force grew by 8,000 people. While other companies have sent call centers abroad, Apple has kept its centers in the United States. One source estimated that sales of Apple’s products have caused other companies to hire tens of thousands of Americans. FedEx and United Parcel Service, for instance, both say they have created American jobs because of the volume of Apple’s shipments, though neither would provide specific figures without permission from Apple, which the company declined to provide. “We shouldn’t be criticized for using Chinese workers,” a current Apple executive said. “The U.S. has stopped producing people with the skills we need.” What’s more, Apple sources say the company has created plenty of good American jobs inside its retail stores and among entrepreneurs selling iPhone and iPad applications. After two months of testing iPads, Mr. Saragoza quit. The pay was so low that he was better off, he figured, spending those hours applying for other jobs. On a recent October evening, while Mr. Saragoza sat at his MacBook and submitted another round of résumés online, halfway around the world a woman arrived at her office. The worker, Lina Lin, is a project man- ager in Shenzhen, China, at PCH International, which contracts with Apple and other electronics companies to coordinate production of accessories, like the cases that protect the iPad’s glass screens. She is not an Apple employee. But Mrs. Lin is integral to Apple’s ability to deliver its products. Mrs. Lin earns a bit less than what Mr. Saragoza was paid by Apple. She speaks fluent English, learned from watching television and in a Chinese university. She and her husband put a quarter of their salaries in the bank every month. They live in a 1,080-square-foot apartment, which they share with their in-laws and son. “There are lots of jobs,” Mrs. Lin said. “Especially in Shenzhen.” Innovation’s Losers Toward the end of Mr. Obama’s dinner last year with Mr. Jobs and other Silicon Valley executives, as everyone stood to leave, a crowd of photo seekers formed around the president. A slightly smaller scrum gathered around Mr. Jobs. Rumors had spread that his illness had worsened, and some hoped for a photograph with him, perhaps for the last time. Eventually, the orbits of the men overlapped. “I’m not worried about the country’s long-term future,” Mr. Jobs told Mr. Obama, according to one observer. “This country is insanely great. What I’m worried about is that we don’t talk enough about solutions.” At dinner, for instance, the executives had suggested that the government should reform visa programs to help companies hire foreign engineers. Some had urged the president to give companies a “tax holiday” so they could bring back overseas profits which, they argued, would be used to create work. Mr. Jobs even suggested it might be possible, someday, to locate some of Apple’s skilled manufacturing in the United States if the government helped train more American engineers. Economists debate the usefulness of those and other efforts, and note that a struggling economy is sometimes transformed by unexpected developments. The last time analysts wrung their hands about prolonged American unemployment, for instance, in the early 1980s, the Internet hardly existed. Few at the time would have guessed that a degree in graphic design was rapidly becoming a smart bet, while studying telephone repair a dead end. What remains unknown, however, is whether the United States will be able to leverage tomorrow’s innovations into millions of jobs. In the last decade, technological leaps in solar and wind energy, semiconductor fabrication and display technologies have created thousands of jobs. But while many of those industries started in America, much of the employment has occurred abroad. Companies have closed major facilities in the United States to reopen in China. By way of explanation, executives say they are competing with Apple for shareholders. If they cannot rival Apple’s growth and profit margins, they won’t survive. “New middle-class jobs will eventually emerge,” said Lawrence Katz, a Harvard economist. “But will someone in his 40s have the David Barboza, Peter Lattman and Catherine Rampell contributed reporting. skills for them? Or will he be bypassed for a new graduate and never find his way back into the middle class?” The pace of innovation, say executives from a variety of industries, has been quickened by businessmen like Mr. Jobs. G.M. went as long as half a decade between major automobile redesigns. Apple, by comparison, has released five iPhones in four years, doubling the devices’ speed and memory while dropping the price that some consumers pay. Before Mr. Obama and Mr. Jobs said goodbye, the Apple executive pulled an iPhone from his pocket to show off a new application — a driving game — with incredibly detailed graphics. The device reflected the soft glow of the room’s lights. The other executives, whose combined worth exceeded $69 billion, jostled for position to glance over his shoulder. The game, everyone agreed, was wonderful. There wasn’t even a tiny scratch on the n screen.