Research: Which states are struggling to fill vacant manufacturing jobs?
ECI Software Solutions has released the results of new research showing which states are struggling the most to fill vacant roles. To reach its conclusions, the manufacturing software provider drew inspiration from a study conducted by the Manufacturing Institute, which hypothesized that by 2030, manufacturers will need to fill an extra four million jobs. For its study, ECI Software Solutions cross referenced the number of vacancies for manufacturing-related roles within each U.S. state (using data from LinkedIn) with internet searches for manufacturing-related jobs in each state (using data from Google Keyword Planner). Called the ‘manufacturing jobs deficit index,’ this new research shows the states where manufacturing workers are most in demand - and which locations are oversubscribed. According to the company, Wyoming topped the list with an 89.47% deficit between jobs on the market and worker demand. New Jersey came in second with an 85.93% deficit. On the opposite end, Louisiana’s demand for jobs was 51.57% higher than the opportunities on the market and Texas’ was 8.67% greater.
In a recent quote, Matt Heerey, President of ECI Software Solutions' Manufacturing Division, said, “Post-pandemic, the demand for manufacturing workers has increased at such a rate that the labor crisis may be getting worse, with our latest research showing the challenges US businesses face in meeting the demand for skilled workers. The extent of the issue varies across the nation, with Wyoming and New Jersey bearing the brunt of the labor shortage, while states like Louisiana and Texas are bucking the trend with a surplus of interest in jobs.”
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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