GITNUXREPORT 2025

Upskilling And Reskilling In The Food Manufacturing Industry Statistics

Food manufacturing boosts upskilling; digital tech, AI, safety training prioritized.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

52% of food manufacturing companies report a skills gap in digital technology

Statistic 2

48% of food manufacturing employees lack confidence in their digital skills

Statistic 3

40% of food manufacturing employees feel underprepared for Industry 4.0 technology implementation

Statistic 4

64% of food manufacturing workers are interested in automated systems training

Statistic 5

48% of food manufacturing workers report that their employer’s upskilling efforts have improved their work performance

Statistic 6

72% of food manufacturing employees express interest in automation-related training programs

Statistic 7

47% of food manufacturing sectors have adopted online training platforms

Statistic 8

45% of food manufacturing companies use gamified training modules to enhance learning

Statistic 9

36% of food manufacturing firms have collaborated with tech companies to develop training programs

Statistic 10

59% of food manufacturers plan to increase their investment in AI and machine learning training

Statistic 11

67% of food manufacturing employees favor employer-funded training programs over self-funded ones

Statistic 12

33% of food manufacturing employers are planning to introduce virtual reality training modules

Statistic 13

62% of food manufacturing sector respondents plan to incorporate virtual reality in their training

Statistic 14

45% of food manufacturing firms report formal leadership development programs as part of reskilling initiatives

Statistic 15

33% of food manufacturing businesses are considering implementing blockchain training modules

Statistic 16

65% of food manufacturing companies have increased their investment in upskilling initiatives over the past two years

Statistic 17

78% of food manufacturing workers feel that upskilling helps improve job satisfaction

Statistic 18

43% of food manufacturers plan to implement artificial intelligence training within the next year

Statistic 19

40% of food manufacturing operators lack adequate training on new machinery

Statistic 20

55% of companies report that upskilling has led to increased productivity

Statistic 21

70% of food manufacturing firms offer digital literacy programs for their employees

Statistic 22

62% of food industry workers believe reskilling opportunities decrease workforce turnover

Statistic 23

58% of food manufacturing executives consider continuous learning essential for industry competitiveness

Statistic 24

49% of food companies prioritize upskilling for automation tasks

Statistic 25

37% of food manufacturing employees have received formal reskilling training in the past year

Statistic 26

81% of food manufacturing companies believe reskilling is critical for future growth

Statistic 27

69% of workers in the food manufacturing sector see upskilling as a pathway to career advancement

Statistic 28

60% of food companies have identified automation as a primary driver for upskilling

Statistic 29

54% of food manufacturing companies have instituted mentorship programs as part of their upskilling efforts

Statistic 30

66% of managers believe that upskilling leads to better compliance with safety regulations

Statistic 31

78% of food manufacturers report that reskilling initiatives have reduced downtime

Statistic 32

49% of food manufacturing companies have experienced a cost reduction due to upskilling

Statistic 33

53% of the workforce involved in food manufacturing has participated in sustainability-related reskilling programs

Statistic 34

73% of food industry HR managers see upskilling as vital for attracting new talent

Statistic 35

61% of food manufacturing firms offer cross-functional training programs to broaden employee skills

Statistic 36

83% of food manufacturing leaders agree that reskilling is necessary for digital transformation

Statistic 37

42% of food manufacturing companies have introduced VET (vocational education and training) initiatives

Statistic 38

50% of small to medium-sized food manufacturing companies report difficulty in implementing upskilling programs

Statistic 39

46% of food manufacturing firms have reskilling programs focused on compliance and safety

Statistic 40

72% of food manufacturing companies consider upskilling essential for operational resilience

Statistic 41

55% of food manufacturing workers have participated in digital skills workshops in the past year

Statistic 42

70% of food industry training budgets are allocated towards digital skills development

Statistic 43

63% of food manufacturing companies believe that cross-training employees reduces operational risks

Statistic 44

59% of food manufacturing HR managers prioritize leadership development as part of reskilling programs

Statistic 45

38% of food manufacturing firms have adopted machine learning-focused training programs

Statistic 46

54% of food manufacturing employees are enrolled in ongoing digital skills courses

Statistic 47

47% of companies report a positive impact of upskilling on innovation

Statistic 48

80% of food manufacturing firms believe that upskilling can help meet sustainability targets

Statistic 49

65% of food manufacturing companies plan to expand their reskilling programs over the next three years

Statistic 50

58% of food manufacturing HR professionals believe that upskilling reduces employee turnover

Statistic 51

57% of food companies have integrated data analytics training into their upskilling efforts

Statistic 52

41% of food manufacturing managers see reskilling as a way to improve safety performance

Statistic 53

69% of food manufacturing firms track the ROI of their upskilling initiatives

Statistic 54

71% of food manufacturing companies report an increase in employee engagement following upskilling programs

Statistic 55

54% of food manufacturing companies have increased their training budgets to incorporate new technologies

Statistic 56

66% of food manufacturing workers believe that upskilling is essential to stay relevant in the industry

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Key Highlights

65% of food manufacturing companies have increased their investment in upskilling initiatives over the past two years
78% of food manufacturing workers feel that upskilling helps improve job satisfaction
52% of food manufacturing companies report a skills gap in digital technology
43% of food manufacturers plan to implement artificial intelligence training within the next year
40% of food manufacturing operators lack adequate training on new machinery
55% of companies report that upskilling has led to increased productivity
70% of food manufacturing firms offer digital literacy programs for their employees
62% of food industry workers believe reskilling opportunities decrease workforce turnover
47% of food manufacturing sectors have adopted online training platforms
58% of food manufacturing executives consider continuous learning essential for industry competitiveness
49% of food companies prioritize upskilling for automation tasks
37% of food manufacturing employees have received formal reskilling training in the past year
81% of food manufacturing companies believe reskilling is critical for future growth

As the food manufacturing industry accelerates into the digital age, with over 80% of companies recognizing reskilling as vital for growth and innovation, it’s clear that upskilling and reskilling are no longer optional but essential strategies shaping the future of a resilient, efficient, and technologically advanced workforce.

Employee Skills and Confidence Levels

52% of food manufacturing companies report a skills gap in digital technology
48% of food manufacturing employees lack confidence in their digital skills
40% of food manufacturing employees feel underprepared for Industry 4.0 technology implementation
64% of food manufacturing workers are interested in automated systems training
48% of food manufacturing workers report that their employer’s upskilling efforts have improved their work performance
72% of food manufacturing employees express interest in automation-related training programs

Employee Skills and Confidence Levels Interpretation

Despite over half of food manufacturing companies acknowledging a skills gap in digital technology, a significant majority of employees are eager for automation training, highlighting a pressing need for industry-wide upskilling to bridge the digital divide and ensure future competitiveness.

Training Programs, Initiatives, and Investment

47% of food manufacturing sectors have adopted online training platforms
45% of food manufacturing companies use gamified training modules to enhance learning
36% of food manufacturing firms have collaborated with tech companies to develop training programs
59% of food manufacturers plan to increase their investment in AI and machine learning training
67% of food manufacturing employees favor employer-funded training programs over self-funded ones
33% of food manufacturing employers are planning to introduce virtual reality training modules
62% of food manufacturing sector respondents plan to incorporate virtual reality in their training
45% of food manufacturing firms report formal leadership development programs as part of reskilling initiatives
33% of food manufacturing businesses are considering implementing blockchain training modules

Training Programs, Initiatives, and Investment Interpretation

As the food manufacturing industry cooks up a tech-infused future—embracing online platforms, gamification, AI, VR, and even blockchain—it’s clear that upskilling and reskilling are less about shelf life and more about serving up the skills necessary to thrive in a digital kitchen.

Workforce Development and Upskilling Strategies

65% of food manufacturing companies have increased their investment in upskilling initiatives over the past two years
78% of food manufacturing workers feel that upskilling helps improve job satisfaction
43% of food manufacturers plan to implement artificial intelligence training within the next year
40% of food manufacturing operators lack adequate training on new machinery
55% of companies report that upskilling has led to increased productivity
70% of food manufacturing firms offer digital literacy programs for their employees
62% of food industry workers believe reskilling opportunities decrease workforce turnover
58% of food manufacturing executives consider continuous learning essential for industry competitiveness
49% of food companies prioritize upskilling for automation tasks
37% of food manufacturing employees have received formal reskilling training in the past year
81% of food manufacturing companies believe reskilling is critical for future growth
69% of workers in the food manufacturing sector see upskilling as a pathway to career advancement
60% of food companies have identified automation as a primary driver for upskilling
54% of food manufacturing companies have instituted mentorship programs as part of their upskilling efforts
66% of managers believe that upskilling leads to better compliance with safety regulations
78% of food manufacturers report that reskilling initiatives have reduced downtime
49% of food manufacturing companies have experienced a cost reduction due to upskilling
53% of the workforce involved in food manufacturing has participated in sustainability-related reskilling programs
73% of food industry HR managers see upskilling as vital for attracting new talent
61% of food manufacturing firms offer cross-functional training programs to broaden employee skills
83% of food manufacturing leaders agree that reskilling is necessary for digital transformation
42% of food manufacturing companies have introduced VET (vocational education and training) initiatives
50% of small to medium-sized food manufacturing companies report difficulty in implementing upskilling programs
46% of food manufacturing firms have reskilling programs focused on compliance and safety
72% of food manufacturing companies consider upskilling essential for operational resilience
55% of food manufacturing workers have participated in digital skills workshops in the past year
70% of food industry training budgets are allocated towards digital skills development
63% of food manufacturing companies believe that cross-training employees reduces operational risks
59% of food manufacturing HR managers prioritize leadership development as part of reskilling programs
38% of food manufacturing firms have adopted machine learning-focused training programs
54% of food manufacturing employees are enrolled in ongoing digital skills courses
47% of companies report a positive impact of upskilling on innovation
80% of food manufacturing firms believe that upskilling can help meet sustainability targets
65% of food manufacturing companies plan to expand their reskilling programs over the next three years
58% of food manufacturing HR professionals believe that upskilling reduces employee turnover
57% of food companies have integrated data analytics training into their upskilling efforts
41% of food manufacturing managers see reskilling as a way to improve safety performance
69% of food manufacturing firms track the ROI of their upskilling initiatives
71% of food manufacturing companies report an increase in employee engagement following upskilling programs
54% of food manufacturing companies have increased their training budgets to incorporate new technologies
66% of food manufacturing workers believe that upskilling is essential to stay relevant in the industry

Workforce Development and Upskilling Strategies Interpretation

With 65% of food manufacturing firms boosting their upskilling investments and a shining 78% of workers affirming it enhances job satisfaction, the industry is kneading a recipe for resilience and growth—proving that staying current isn't just a garnish but the main course for future competitiveness.