Delving into the Food Manufacturing Subsector
The Food Manufacturing sector, categorized under NAICS 311, is a critical component of the broader manufacturing industry. This subsector is dedicated to the transformation of raw agricultural commodities and livestock into a vast array of food products, designed for both intermediate industrial use and direct final consumption by individuals.
The core function of food manufacturing is processing. Companies within this sector utilize raw materials, primarily from animal and vegetable sources, to create diverse food products. These manufactured goods are then typically distributed through wholesale and retail channels, reaching consumers through grocery stores, restaurants, and other food outlets. It’s important to note that establishments primarily focused on retail sales of bakery and confectionery items produced on-site, intended for consumption at a later time, also fall under this NAICS code.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) provides a standardized framework for classifying business establishments. Within food manufacturing, NAICS 311 encompasses a wide range of industry groups, each specializing in different types of food production. These groups are delineated by the primary raw materials they process.
Here’s a breakdown of the industry groups within the food manufacturing subsector:
- Animal Food Manufacturing: NAICS 3111 – This segment focuses on producing food for animals, including pet food and animal feed.
- Grain and Oilseed Milling: NAICS 3112 – Industries here are involved in milling grains and oilseeds into products like flour, animal feeds, and vegetable oils.
- Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing: NAICS 3113 – This group manufactures sugar and various confectionery products, from candies to chocolates.
- Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing: NAICS 3114 – This diverse category includes preserving fruits and vegetables through canning, drying, and freezing, as well as producing specialty foods.
- Dairy Product Manufacturing: NAICS 3115 – This sector is dedicated to the production of dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt.
- Animal Slaughtering and Processing: NAICS 3116 – Industries in this group are involved in slaughtering animals and processing meat products.
- Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging: NAICS 3117 – This segment focuses on preparing and packaging seafood products.
- Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing: NAICS 3118 – This group includes commercial bakeries producing bread, cakes, pastries, and tortillas.
- Other Food Manufacturing: NAICS 3119 – This residual category covers food manufacturing industries not classified elsewhere, including items like coffee, tea, and flavorings.
Food Manufacturing Workforce: Employment and Unemployment Overview
Understanding the workforce dynamics within food manufacturing is crucial for assessing the health and trends of this vital sector. The following data provides insights into employment and unemployment rates within the industry. The majority of this data is sourced from surveys of employers and establishments, while unemployment figures are derived from national household surveys.
| Data series | Backdata | Oct.2024 | Nov.2024 | Dec.2024 | Jan.2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment (in thousands) | |||||
| Employment, all employees (seasonally adjusted) | 1,775.1 | 1,772.7 | (p)1,771.0 | (p)1,771.7 | |
| Employment, production and nonsupervisory employees (seasonally adjusted) | 1,405.6 | 1,402.6 | (p)1,401.5 | (p)1,401.4 | |
| Unemployment | |||||
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.3% | 5.4% | 5.7% | |
| Footnotes (p) Preliminary |
(Source: Current Employment Statistics and Current Population Survey)
This table illustrates the employment levels in food manufacturing, showing both total employment and employment specifically for production and nonsupervisory roles. It also presents the unemployment rate for individuals with prior experience in the food manufacturing industry. This data is essential for understanding the labor market conditions within the sector.
Key Occupations in Food Manufacturing
The food manufacturing industry provides a wide array of job opportunities, from production line workers to management positions. Here are some key occupations and their employment figures within the sector:
| Data series | Employment, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Bakers | 74,770 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers | 69,680 |
| Food batchmakers | 137,790 |
| Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders | 158,560 |
| Slaughterers and meat packers | 66,320 |
(Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics)
These occupations represent critical roles in the food manufacturing process, highlighting the diverse skills and labor required to produce the food we consume. From bakers crafting goods to packaging operators ensuring product integrity, these jobs are fundamental to the industry’s success.
Employment Projections for Food Manufacturing
Looking ahead, understanding employment projections is vital for stakeholders in the food manufacturing industry. Projected employment estimates can be found in the National Employment Matrix, which offers detailed forecasts by industry and occupation.
(Source: Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections)
These projections provide valuable insights for workforce planning, career development, and understanding the future demand for labor within food manufacturing.
Earnings and Hours in Food Manufacturing: A Detailed Look
Compensation and working hours are key aspects of any industry analysis. This section provides data on employee earnings and weekly hours in food manufacturing, offering a comprehensive view of labor costs and worker schedules.
Earnings and Hours for All Employees
| Data series | Backdata | Oct.2024 | Nov.2024 | Dec.2024 | Jan.2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average hourly earnings | $26.99 | $27.01 | (p)$27.20 | (p)$27.36 | |
| Average weekly hours | 39.4 | 39.5 | (p)39.6 | (p)39.7 | |
| Footnotes (p) Preliminary |
(Source: Current Employment Statistics)
This table presents the average hourly earnings and weekly hours for all employees in food manufacturing. It offers a broad overview of compensation trends within the entire sector.
Earnings and Hours for Production and Nonsupervisory Employees
| Data series | Backdata | Oct.2024 | Nov.2024 | Dec.2024 | Jan.2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average hourly earnings | $23.66 | $23.73 | (p)$23.88 | (p)$24.08 | |
| Average weekly hours | 39.4 | 39.6 | (p)40.0 | (p)40.1 | |
| Footnotes (p) Preliminary |
(Source: Current Employment Statistics)
Focusing on production and nonsupervisory employees provides a more specific look at the earnings and hours for a significant portion of the food manufacturing workforce. This data is particularly relevant for understanding the labor costs associated with production roles.
Occupational Earnings in Food Manufacturing
Beyond average earnings, examining wages by specific occupation offers a deeper understanding of the compensation structure within food manufacturing.
| Data series | Wages, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Hourly | |
| Median | |
| Bakers | 16.83 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers | 30.53 |
| Food batchmakers | 19.16 |
| Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders | 18.84 |
| Slaughterers and meat packers | 18.44 |
(Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics)
This table details both hourly and annual median and mean wages for various occupations within food manufacturing. This detailed breakdown is invaluable for job seekers, employers, and analysts seeking to understand the wage landscape in specific food manufacturing roles.
Workplace Safety in Food Manufacturing: Fatalities, Injuries, and Illnesses
Ensuring worker safety is paramount in any industry, and food manufacturing is no exception. This section provides data on workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses within the sector. A work-related injury or illness is defined as a condition caused or aggravated by workplace events or exposures.
| Data series | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatalities | ||||
| Number of fatalities | 50 | |||
| There was a series break beginning with 2023 data due to NAICS 2022. Data for years prior to 2023 are available at www.bls.gov/iif. |
| Data series | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Rate of injury and illness cases per 100 full-time workers | |
| Total recordable cases | 3.6 |
| Cases involving days away from work, job restriction, or transfer | 2.6 |
| Cases involving days away from work | 1.3 |
| Cases involving days of job transfer or restriction | 1.3 |
| Blank cells indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. |
(Source: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities)
This data highlights the number of fatalities and the rates of non-fatal injuries and illnesses in food manufacturing. Analyzing these figures is crucial for identifying areas for safety improvement and ensuring a healthier work environment.
Price Trends in Food Manufacturing
Understanding price fluctuations is essential for assessing economic trends within food manufacturing. The following data examines producer prices, import prices, and export prices relevant to the sector. The Producer Price Index (PPI) tracks changes in prices received by domestic producers, while import and export price indices reflect price changes for international trade.
| Data series | Backdata | Oct.2024 | Nov.2024 | Dec.2024 | Jan.2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Producer price index | (p)260.642 | (p)262.165 | (p)262.290 | (p)263.210 | |
| Percent change from previous month | (p)-0.4% | (p)0.6% | (p)0.0% | (p)0.4% | |
| Import index | (r)194.3 | (r)197.5 | (r)200.7 | 205.3 | |
| Percent change from previous month | (r)-0.2% | (r)1.6% | (r)1.6% | (r)2.3% | |
| Export index | 206.4 | (r)207.5 | (r)205.2 | 204.5 | |
| Percent change from previous month | 0.6% | (r)0.5% | (r)-1.1% | (r)-0.3% | |
| Footnotes (p) Preliminary (r) Revised |
(Source: Producer Price Indexes and International Price Program)
Analyzing these price indices provides valuable insights into inflation, cost pressures, and the competitiveness of the U.S. food manufacturing sector in both domestic and international markets.
Workplace Trends in Food Manufacturing: Establishments and Productivity
Examining the number of establishments and productivity trends provides a view into the structural changes and efficiency within the food manufacturing industry.
Number of Establishments
| Data series | Backdata | 3rd quarter2023 | 4th quarter2023 | 1st quarter2024 | 2nd quarter2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of establishments | |||||
| Private industry | 40,998 | 41,356 | (p)41,921 | (p)42,427 | |
| Local government | 6 | 10 | (p)8 | (p)7 | |
| State government | 1 | 1 | (p)1 | (p)1 | |
| Footnotes (p) Preliminary |
(Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)
The number of establishments provides an indicator of the industry’s scale and distribution. Tracking changes in establishment numbers can reflect industry growth, consolidation, or shifts in business structure.
Productivity in Food Manufacturing
| Data series | Backdata | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor productivity, output per hour | 2.3 | -1.5 | -2.0 | -1.2 | |
| Hours worked | -1.3 | 2.8 | 1.1 | -0.6 | |
| Output | 1.0 | 1.3 | -0.8 | -1.8 | |
| Unit labor costs | 4.8 | 4.3 | 9.4 | 7.2 |
(Source: Productivity)
Productivity measures, such as output per hour, are crucial for assessing the efficiency and competitiveness of food manufacturing. Changes in productivity and unit labor costs reflect the industry’s ability to produce goods efficiently and manage labor expenses.
Data extracted on: February 14, 2025
