The demand for manufacturing talent is still on the rise despite the slow growth rate, according to Aerotek’s second-annual “Opportunities in Manufacturing,” list. Oil and gas field machinery and equipment ranked as the fastest-growing US industry for manufacturing employment, with employment growth of 7% from 2015 to 2016.
Aerotek found the 10 fastest-growing US industries for manufacturing employment are:
- Oil and gas field machinery and equipment: 7%
- Metal tank (heavy gauge): 5%
- Perishable prepared food: 4%
- Fabricated pipe and pipe fitting: 3%
- Commercial screen printing: 3%
- Wood container and pallet: 3%
- Truck trailer: 3%
- Motor vehicle seating and interior trim: 2%
- Printed circuit assembly (electronic assembly): 2%
- Farm machinery and equipment: 2%
The top states for manufacturing employment are California, Texas, Indiana, Michigan and Iowa.
Open positions in skill sets with the highest demand include:
- General production worker: 43,100
- Light industrial assembler: 19,648
- Machine operator: 6,050
- Maintenance tech/mechanics: 5,465
- Welder: 3,818
Sara Staggs, director of divisional operations for Aerotek’s commercial division, notes the industry softening is in response to market forces including the global economic downturn outside the US, 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,” Staggs said. “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.”
