Aerotek reports fastest-growing industries in U.S. manufacturing employment

As part of National Manufacturing Day, Aerotek, a leading provider of industrial staffing solutions, has released its list of the Top 10 Fastest-Growing U.S. Industries for Manufacturing Employment, as well as the top states in manufacturing for each sector.

Overall, the U.S. manufacturing industry continues to experience rapid growth and change, driven by trends in re-shoring/next-shoring and improvements in technology, including advances in 3D printing, manufacturing cloud technology, supply chain management and automation. As the manufacturing industry evolves and new skill sets are needed, manufacturing companies are increasingly turning to staffing solutions firms such as Aerotek to meet the demand for qualified talent.

Top 10 fastest-growing U.S. industries for manufacturing employment
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the U.S. manufacturing industry has experienced little net change in overall employment in 2015, Aerotek reports that manufacturing jobs in the fastest-growing industries have shown employment growth of 4% or higher in 2014 – 2015:
● Automobile electronics - 17.1% growth
● Cosmetic and beauty products - 5.8% growth
● Breweries - 5.3% growth
● Wineries - 5.1% growth
● Train, subway and transit cars - 5% growth
● Wood paneling - 4.8% growth
● Mineral products - 4.2% growth
● Engine and turbine - 4.2% growth
● SUV and light trucks - 4.1% growth
● Boats - 4.1% growth

“The push for domestic manufacturing has created a ready-made need for skilled labor, yet only one skilled tradesperson is entering the workforce for every four who retire,” said Sara Staggs, director of divisional operations at Aerotek. “We work closely with our customers in manufacturing to identify talent with the right mix of experience and transferable skills, which can be applied to jobs in the fastest growth industries.” 

Top states for manufacturing employment
According to Aerotek’s findings, California is the largest manufacturer for several of the fastest-growing industries, accounting for 11.4% of automobile electronics; 22.9% of cosmetic and beauty products; 11.4% of breweries; 42.7% of wineries; 9% of engine and turbine; and 6.9% of wood paneling manufacturing in the U.S. The top states for manufacturing across the other industries include:
● Pennsylvania - 17.5% of train, subway and transit cars
● Texas - 8% of mineral products
● Michigan - 9.7% of SUV and light trucks
● Florida - 17.7% of boats

Growing talent gap in manufacturing
According to the report, an aging workforce and shortage of skilled tradespersons are also contributing to the growing talent gap in the manufacturing industry. Aerotek reports it is currently looking to fill more than 4,502 skilled trades and industrial positions within manufacturing, production, distribution and warehouse companies. The positions that are in the highest demand among Aerotek’s clients include machinists, welders, maintenance technicians, millwrights, electricians and industrial carpenters.

“In addition to sourcing talent from the existing pool of candidates, Aerotek continues to monitor hiring trends in the industry and plan for future needs in U.S. manufacturing,” Staggs said. “We are working with trade associations, technical schools and our customers to create and support training programs in the hopes of attracting the next generation to STEM-based careers in manufacturing.”

To find out more information on National Manufacturing Day, visit the official website at http://www.mfgday.org, or join the conversation with the hashtag #mfgday15.