HANOVER, Md., Oct. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For National Manufacturing Day, Aerotek, a leading provider of industrial staffing services, today released its second-annual list of "Opportunities in Manufacturing," including the top 10 fast growing U.S. industries for manufacturing employment as well as the top states driving employment. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a softening in the manufacturing industry, Aerotek notes the demand for manufacturing talent is still critical.
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Top 10 Fastest-Growing U.S. Industries for Manufacturing Employment
Aerotek found that manufacturing jobs in the fastest-growing industries have shown employment growth in 2015-2016:
- Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment: 7 percent
- Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge): 5 percent
- Perishable Prepared Food: 4 percent
- Fabricated Pipe and Pipe Fitting: 3 percent
- Commercial Screen Printing: 3 percent
- Wood Container and Pallet: 3 percent
- Truck Trailer: 3 percent
- Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim: 2 percent
- Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly): 2 percent
- Farm Machinery and Equipment: 2 percent
Top States for Manufacturing Employment
- California
- Texas
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Iowa
According to Sara Staggs, director of divisional operations for Aerotek's Commercial Division, the industry softening is in response to market forces including the global economic downturn outside the U.S., a strong dollar and increasing competition from companies abroad.
"Despite the slower growth, finding talent is still one of the greatest challenges for manufacturing today," said Staggs. "Machinists, production workers and assemblers are among the top occupations in demand, while workers with skilled trade backgrounds such as welding and machining are also in high demand."
Open Positions in Skillsets with the Highest Demand
General Production Worker: 43,100
Light Industrial Assembler: 19,648
Machine Operator: 6,050
Maintenance Tech/Mechanics: 5,465
Welder: 3,818
This talent need is driven primarily by the rate of retirement and the reduction in supply of new workers entering the industry. Approximately 2.7 million workers will retire from the manufacturing industry in the next decade or so, according to a 2015 report by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, and they're not easily replaced.
Investing in the Future
The manufacturing industry has continued to evolve – relying more heavily on the operation, maintenance and programming of high tech machines – and shifting away from the outdated stigma of the manufacturing industry is critical in attracting talent. Millennials, who are well accustomed to using high tech devices, have great potential to embrace the increasingly sophisticated world of skilled trades.
Many organizations and states are taking actions to change the stigma and ensure the next generation of manufacturing is equipped with the necessary skills and training, and many companies and recruiting firms have started to form partnerships with schools to boost the pipeline of talent entering the manufacturing industry.
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