How Difficult Is It to Fill Manufacturing Positions? A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Survey Results

For many communities, the manufacturing sector is still an important source of employment and economic vitality. However, the traditional manufacturing sector, where many of the jobs were low-skilled but high-paying, has been replaced by the advanced manufacturing operations, which create occupations that require a mix of experience and education. National and local surveys suggest that many human resource managers have difficulty filling open positions that require a blend of education, skill, and expertise. This study explores the relationship between the difficulty of filling certain manufacturing positions and the position, company, and location characteristics using survey data from human resource managers representing about 300 manufacturing organizations in the Southeast. A comprehensive survey was conducted in 2019, targeting nearly 1,300 manufacturing operations. The findings can help organizations and human resource managers prioritize their resources by focusing on the areas of concerns in filling the targeted jobs.