Staffing Trends
The 2026 Guide to Hiring Skilled Manufacturing Workers
Finding reliable manufacturing workers has never been easy. Between an aging workforce, ongoing supply chain demands, and increased competition across industries, manufacturers are being challenged to keep production lines moving without cutting into profit margins. 4.6 million manufacturing jobs will be available by 2028. 2.4 million of those jobs will go unfilled due to a lack of suitable workers. So how can manufacturers address these challenges and implement effective recruiting strategies when hiring skilled manufacturing workers? This blog post discusses the current challenges and provides strategies for overcoming them.
The Changing Manufacturing Workforce
Manufacturing remains one of the most essential sectors in the U.S., yet it continues to face major hiring hurdles. More than 65% of firms said recruiting and retaining workers was their number one business challenge. Today’s employers seek reliable workers with the skills needed to succeed in the manufacturing industry. But finding those candidates, screening them, and ensuring they’re a good fit takes time and that’s time most production managers don’t have.
Manufacturing by the Numbers: Where the Jobs Are Growing
The job outlook in the manufacturing industry is hopeful. There is a growing demand for skilled workers in this sector. Here's a snapshot of where the industry currently stands and where it's projected to grow.
Texas, Georgia, and Florida are projected to see the fastest growth in skilled manufacturing jobs over the next decade (2022-2032), meaning competition for skilled workers in these states will intensify. For current employers, this makes proactive hiring, retention strategies, and partnerships with staffing agencies more important than ever to ensure operations stay fully staffed and productive.
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Texas: will add around +57,644 jobs (+6.4), led by projects like Samsung's $17B semiconductor plant in Taylor and Tesla's Austin expansion.
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Georgia: will add around +36,000 jobs (+8.9%), led by electric vehicle and battery production from Kia, Hyundai, Rivian, and SK Battery America.
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Florida: will add around +31,879 jobs (+7.8%), led by growth in aerospace, medical devices, and electronics manufacturing.
A 2024 study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute projects demand for up to 3.8 million new manufacturing workers between 2024 and 2033.
Top Challenges and Solutions for Hiring Skilled Manufacturing Workers
Finding and keeping skilled manufacturing workers is a constant balancing act. Managers must stretch experienced staff across multiple shifts, onboard new laborers quickly, and maintain productivity. Even with competitive wages, hiring gaps can disrupt operations, and many companies struggle to find staffing partners who can adapt to their ever-changing needs. One of the most effective ways to attract and retain skilled workers is by offering competitive pay. Reports indicate that manufacturers have raised their pay in recent years. This has helped reduce the number of open manufacturing positions from their peak of over 1 million open positions in April 2022. Higher wages not only draw new candidates to the industry but also encourage employees to invest in building valuable skills and remain loyal to their employers.
Another major obstacle is perception. Many job seekers have outdated beliefs about what manufacturing work actually looks like. They imagine dark, dirty factories as seen in movies, unaware that modern manufacturing is clean, efficient, and powered by advanced technology. Employers who showcase today’s modern facilities and potential career growth opportunities can shift that outdated mindset and appeal to the new generation of workers like Gen Z.
The ongoing skills shortage and competition for qualified employees make it even more challenging to stay fully staffed. To work in the manufacturing industry, skills typically require 1 to 2 years of either apprenticeship or trade school. Even though a 1-2 year trade school program is shorter, less expensive, and often leads directly to a high-paying, in-demand career, many young people still choose a four-year college path. Recently, there’s been a noticeable shift: more young workers and career changers are recognizing that skilled trades can offer steady, high-paying jobs with real upward mobility. The shift toward college as the default post-high school path has made it increasingly difficult for manufacturers to keep their production floors fully staffed, and that’s why partnering with staffing agencies has become such an essential strategy.
Why More Manufacturers Are Turning to Local Staffing Agencies
The manufacturing landscape will continue to evolve, but one thing remains constant: having dependable and skilled workers is a must. A staffing partner can help build and maintain a bench of pre-qualified candidates who are ready to step in to fill critical roles and keep production schedules on track. These positions can be short-term, long-term, or project-based roles. Working with a staffing agency that has strong local connections can make all the difference.
Many employers often feel hesitant about using staffing agencies due to various concerns. They may worry about whether the workers will be adequately vetted, if the candidates will adapt quickly to the workplace, or if managing an external vendor will result in additional paperwork. A reliable local staffing agency effectively addresses these issues: candidates are pre-screened and prepared to contribute from day one, schedules are flexible to align with production demands, and communication is organized and efficient.
Hiring Smart in 2026
Running a company is challenging enough. Keeping shifts fully staffed, managing current workers, and filling entry-level roles can feel like a full-time job in addition to your existing responsibilities. Partnering with a local staffing agency can help reduce some of that stress. Instead of spending hours juggling last-minute staffing gaps, employers can rely on a staffing agency to provide pre-screened, ready-to-work candidates exactly when they’re needed.
Choose an agency with experience, dependability, and a sense of urgency that matches your own. For over 50 years, Labor Finders has been recognized as a reliable staffing agency. Our network of over 200 offices nationwide is locally owned and operated. We put our customers first and strive to match job seekers with their perfect employer.
