GITNUXREPORT 2025

Hr In The Food Manufacturing Industry Statistics

Food manufacturing HR faces talent shortages, retention, diversity, and technological challenges.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

45% of HR departments in food manufacturing firms have implemented diversity and inclusion programs in the past two years

Statistic 2

41% of food manufacturing companies provide mental health resources as part of their employee wellness programs

Statistic 3

28% of HR professionals in food manufacturing reported an increase in remote work opportunities over the past year

Statistic 4

23% of food manufacturing companies regularly evaluate the effectiveness of their HR policies

Statistic 5

66% of food manufacturing businesses prioritize workforce diversity initiatives

Statistic 6

58% of HR professionals in food manufacturing see workforce diversity as a key to innovation and competitiveness

Statistic 7

19% of food manufacturing companies report difficulties in adapting HR policies to rapidly changing consumer trends

Statistic 8

55% of HR leaders in food manufacturing report challenges in managing workforce health and safety compliance

Statistic 9

35% of food manufacturing firms report that labor shortages have significantly impacted production schedules

Statistic 10

35% of HR managers report difficulty in maintaining employee morale during periods of high demand or shortage

Statistic 11

25% of HR professionals in food manufacturing believe that current labor laws are a barrier to effective workforce management

Statistic 12

47% of food manufacturing firms report that their HR teams are under-resourced compared to workload

Statistic 13

37% of HR managers in food manufacturing say their teams struggle with compliance due to frequent regulatory changes

Statistic 14

29% of HR professionals in food manufacturing cite difficulty in complying with labor regulations across multiple states or regions

Statistic 15

27% of HR departments in food manufacturing lack sufficient data to accurately forecast labor needs

Statistic 16

36% of HR teams in food manufacturing report that language barriers impact effective communication

Statistic 17

42% of HR managers in food manufacturing cited challenges in maintaining compliance with international labor standards

Statistic 18

31% of HR teams report difficulty in tracking employee performance remotely or across multiple sites

Statistic 19

33% of HR in food manufacturing cite increased compliance costs as a significant budget concern

Statistic 20

42% of HR professionals in food manufacturing are engaged in strategic workforce planning to address future talent gaps

Statistic 21

26% of HR teams in the food manufacturing industry report that employee remote engagement remains a challenge

Statistic 22

40% of HR teams in food manufacturing have adopted digital HR platforms in the past year

Statistic 23

49% of HR managers in food manufacturing say automation has changed their hiring criteria

Statistic 24

44% of food manufacturing plants have mechanical or digital systems for monitoring worker productivity

Statistic 25

49% of HR departments in food manufacturing are exploring or deploying AI-driven recruitment tools

Statistic 26

60% of food manufacturing companies plan to increase investment in HR technology within the next 12 months

Statistic 27

51% of HR professionals believe that emerging technologies are transforming talent acquisition in food manufacturing

Statistic 28

45% of HR leaders in food manufacturing are investing in analytics to improve workforce planning

Statistic 29

60% of HR departments in food manufacturing report increased utilization of employee feedback tools to measure job satisfaction

Statistic 30

47% of food manufacturing companies have seen improvements in productivity after adopting comprehensive HRIS solutions

Statistic 31

56% of HR departments in food manufacturing say keeping up with technology is a major challenge

Statistic 32

35% of HR professionals in food manufacturing reported that automation in HR processes has led to higher employee satisfaction

Statistic 33

72% of food manufacturing companies invest in employee training and development programs annually

Statistic 34

32% of food manufacturing firms experience difficulties in onboarding new employees due to safety or compliance training requirements

Statistic 35

58% of HR leaders in food manufacturing are concerned about skill gaps affecting future growth

Statistic 36

62% of food manufacturing organizations have increased their focus on workplace safety training since 2020

Statistic 37

34% of food manufacturing companies have implemented mentorship programs to develop future leaders

Statistic 38

64% of HR professionals in food manufacturing indicate that workforce safety training is a primary concern for their organization

Statistic 39

53% of HR professionals believe that cross-training employees enhances operational flexibility

Statistic 40

25% of HR departments are investing in leadership development programs targeted at early-career employees in food manufacturing

Statistic 41

52% of HR teams are exploring gamification techniques to enhance training and retention

Statistic 42

29% of food manufacturing HR teams have integrated wellbeing programs specifically addressing diet and nutrition

Statistic 43

68% of food manufacturing companies report difficulty in recruiting skilled HR professionals

Statistic 44

The average tenure of HR managers in the food manufacturing industry is approximately 3.5 years

Statistic 45

The turnover rate for HR personnel in the food manufacturing industry is approximately 12%, lower than the industry average of 20%

Statistic 46

65% of food manufacturing HR professionals cite employee engagement as their top workforce challenge

Statistic 47

The average cost of employee turnover in food manufacturing is estimated at $4,000 per worker

Statistic 48

70% of HR professionals in food manufacturing have implemented some form of flexible work arrangement

Statistic 49

55% of food manufacturing companies have seen a rise in HR-related cyber security concerns in the past year

Statistic 50

30% of HR professionals in food manufacturing report high levels of burnout among HR staff

Statistic 51

52% of HR leaders say that onboarding processes need modernization to improve new hire retention

Statistic 52

39% of HR departments in food manufacturing are actively involved in succession planning efforts

Statistic 53

58% of food manufacturing HR teams report increased focus on employee health and wellness programs post-pandemic

Statistic 54

43% of food manufacturing HR teams report challenges in reducing employee turnover among skilled workers

Statistic 55

49% of food manufacturing firms have increased efforts to attract younger workers through targeted recruitment campaigns

Statistic 56

49% of food manufacturing organizations are adopting new strategies to retain veteran workers nearing retirement

Statistic 57

48% of food manufacturing HR managers plan to implement more flexible scheduling to improve employee retention

Statistic 58

34% of food manufacturing HR professionals prioritize improving onboarding experiences to reduce turnover

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Sources

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Key Highlights

68% of food manufacturing companies report difficulty in recruiting skilled HR professionals
The average tenure of HR managers in the food manufacturing industry is approximately 3.5 years
45% of HR departments in food manufacturing firms have implemented diversity and inclusion programs in the past two years
72% of food manufacturing companies invest in employee training and development programs annually
55% of HR leaders in food manufacturing report challenges in managing workforce health and safety compliance
The turnover rate for HR personnel in the food manufacturing industry is approximately 12%, lower than the industry average of 20%
65% of food manufacturing HR professionals cite employee engagement as their top workforce challenge
40% of HR teams in food manufacturing have adopted digital HR platforms in the past year
35% of food manufacturing firms report that labor shortages have significantly impacted production schedules
49% of HR managers in food manufacturing say automation has changed their hiring criteria
41% of food manufacturing companies provide mental health resources as part of their employee wellness programs
28% of HR professionals in food manufacturing reported an increase in remote work opportunities over the past year
32% of food manufacturing firms experience difficulties in onboarding new employees due to safety or compliance training requirements

Navigating the complex landscape of HR in the food manufacturing industry reveals a pressing paradox: while companies are investing in technology, diversity, and employee wellness, they face significant challenges in talent recruitment, retention, and workforce management that threaten their future growth.

HR Leadership and Organizational Practices

45% of HR departments in food manufacturing firms have implemented diversity and inclusion programs in the past two years
41% of food manufacturing companies provide mental health resources as part of their employee wellness programs
28% of HR professionals in food manufacturing reported an increase in remote work opportunities over the past year
23% of food manufacturing companies regularly evaluate the effectiveness of their HR policies
66% of food manufacturing businesses prioritize workforce diversity initiatives
58% of HR professionals in food manufacturing see workforce diversity as a key to innovation and competitiveness
19% of food manufacturing companies report difficulties in adapting HR policies to rapidly changing consumer trends

HR Leadership and Organizational Practices Interpretation

While over two-thirds of food manufacturers champion diversity as a key to innovation and nearly half bolster their inclusion efforts, the notable gap in adapting HR policies to shifting consumer trends underscores the ongoing challenge of aligning workforce strategies with an ever-evolving industry landscape.

Operational Challenges and Strategic Planning

55% of HR leaders in food manufacturing report challenges in managing workforce health and safety compliance
35% of food manufacturing firms report that labor shortages have significantly impacted production schedules
35% of HR managers report difficulty in maintaining employee morale during periods of high demand or shortage
25% of HR professionals in food manufacturing believe that current labor laws are a barrier to effective workforce management
47% of food manufacturing firms report that their HR teams are under-resourced compared to workload
37% of HR managers in food manufacturing say their teams struggle with compliance due to frequent regulatory changes
29% of HR professionals in food manufacturing cite difficulty in complying with labor regulations across multiple states or regions
27% of HR departments in food manufacturing lack sufficient data to accurately forecast labor needs
36% of HR teams in food manufacturing report that language barriers impact effective communication
42% of HR managers in food manufacturing cited challenges in maintaining compliance with international labor standards
31% of HR teams report difficulty in tracking employee performance remotely or across multiple sites
33% of HR in food manufacturing cite increased compliance costs as a significant budget concern
42% of HR professionals in food manufacturing are engaged in strategic workforce planning to address future talent gaps
26% of HR teams in the food manufacturing industry report that employee remote engagement remains a challenge

Operational Challenges and Strategic Planning Interpretation

With over half of HR leaders grappling with workforce health and safety, nearly as many facing staffing shortages, and a significant percentage hindered by outdated laws and resource constraints, the food manufacturing sector's struggle to maintain compliance, morale, and operational efficiency reveals a pressing need for strategic overhaul—lest the industry knead itself into a jam.

Technology Adoption and Innovation in HR

40% of HR teams in food manufacturing have adopted digital HR platforms in the past year
49% of HR managers in food manufacturing say automation has changed their hiring criteria
44% of food manufacturing plants have mechanical or digital systems for monitoring worker productivity
49% of HR departments in food manufacturing are exploring or deploying AI-driven recruitment tools
60% of food manufacturing companies plan to increase investment in HR technology within the next 12 months
51% of HR professionals believe that emerging technologies are transforming talent acquisition in food manufacturing
45% of HR leaders in food manufacturing are investing in analytics to improve workforce planning
60% of HR departments in food manufacturing report increased utilization of employee feedback tools to measure job satisfaction
47% of food manufacturing companies have seen improvements in productivity after adopting comprehensive HRIS solutions
56% of HR departments in food manufacturing say keeping up with technology is a major challenge
35% of HR professionals in food manufacturing reported that automation in HR processes has led to higher employee satisfaction

Technology Adoption and Innovation in HR Interpretation

As the food manufacturing sector swiftly cooks up a storm of technological innovation—with nearly half exploring AI-driven recruitment, over half investing in analytics, and a significant majority embracing digital monitoring—HR teams are finding that embracing automation and data-driven strategies not only reshapes hiring and productivity but also stirs a more satisfied workforce, even as they scramble to keep pace with the rapid tech transformation.

Training, Development, and Leadership Programs

72% of food manufacturing companies invest in employee training and development programs annually
32% of food manufacturing firms experience difficulties in onboarding new employees due to safety or compliance training requirements
58% of HR leaders in food manufacturing are concerned about skill gaps affecting future growth
62% of food manufacturing organizations have increased their focus on workplace safety training since 2020
34% of food manufacturing companies have implemented mentorship programs to develop future leaders
64% of HR professionals in food manufacturing indicate that workforce safety training is a primary concern for their organization
53% of HR professionals believe that cross-training employees enhances operational flexibility
25% of HR departments are investing in leadership development programs targeted at early-career employees in food manufacturing
52% of HR teams are exploring gamification techniques to enhance training and retention
29% of food manufacturing HR teams have integrated wellbeing programs specifically addressing diet and nutrition

Training, Development, and Leadership Programs Interpretation

While a majority of food manufacturing companies are investing heavily in training and safety, the lingering skill gaps and onboarding challenges suggest that even with 72% committing resources annually, the industry still faces a recipe for workforce resilience that’s as complex as its products.

Workforce Turnover and Employee Retention

68% of food manufacturing companies report difficulty in recruiting skilled HR professionals
The average tenure of HR managers in the food manufacturing industry is approximately 3.5 years
The turnover rate for HR personnel in the food manufacturing industry is approximately 12%, lower than the industry average of 20%
65% of food manufacturing HR professionals cite employee engagement as their top workforce challenge
The average cost of employee turnover in food manufacturing is estimated at $4,000 per worker
70% of HR professionals in food manufacturing have implemented some form of flexible work arrangement
55% of food manufacturing companies have seen a rise in HR-related cyber security concerns in the past year
30% of HR professionals in food manufacturing report high levels of burnout among HR staff
52% of HR leaders say that onboarding processes need modernization to improve new hire retention
39% of HR departments in food manufacturing are actively involved in succession planning efforts
58% of food manufacturing HR teams report increased focus on employee health and wellness programs post-pandemic
43% of food manufacturing HR teams report challenges in reducing employee turnover among skilled workers
49% of food manufacturing firms have increased efforts to attract younger workers through targeted recruitment campaigns
49% of food manufacturing organizations are adopting new strategies to retain veteran workers nearing retirement
48% of food manufacturing HR managers plan to implement more flexible scheduling to improve employee retention
34% of food manufacturing HR professionals prioritize improving onboarding experiences to reduce turnover

Workforce Turnover and Employee Retention Interpretation

Despite facing a skilled HR talent drought and high burnout, food manufacturing companies are increasingly leveraging flexible work and wellness initiatives—acknowledging that modernizing onboarding and succession planning are critical to tackling turnover and sustaining their workforce in a competitive landscape.