Upskilling And Reskilling In The Food Manufacturing Industry

Training is becoming a business necessity rather than an HR perk as employers struggle to find the right skills and automation reshapes line work. With 82% of organizations planning to use skills based hiring for at least some roles and 56% of manufacturers saying workforce skills must be upgraded due to digitalization, the gap is showing up fast. Meanwhile, global reskilling needs are forecast to reach 23% of workers by 2027, making it crucial to understand where training investment actually pays off in food manufacturing.

Key Takeaways

82% of organizations said they plan to use skills-based hiring for at least some roles (2023)
70% of employers say they have difficulty finding workers with the right skills (U.S., 2023)
23% of workers globally are expected to need reskilling by 2027 due to shifts in labour market structure (World Economic Forum, 2023)
The global reskilling and upskilling market is projected to grow from $XX to $YY by 2030
The learning management system market size is projected to reach $37.6 billion worldwide by 2027 (2022)
The workplace learning and development (L&D) services market is forecast to grow to $340.7 billion by 2030 (2023)
The global food processing industry market is expected to reach $6.2 trillion by 2025 (pre-processed foods growth drivers)
56% of manufacturers reported that their workforce skills must be upgraded due to automation/digitalization (OECD, 2019)
21% of manufacturers reported adopting cobots or robotics training programs specifically for line operators (2023 survey)
In 2023, average weekly earnings in food manufacturing were $1,005 (BLS QCEW)
Employees who receive training are 10% more productive (meta-analysis across corporate learning interventions; 2020)
Companies that invest in training have 24% higher profit margins compared with those that invest less (U.S. employer survey)
Food manufacturers reported 120,000 total nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2022 (BLS/industry data)
Food and beverage processing companies reported average compliance costs that increased by 22% from 2019 to 2023 (annual compliance trend)
Workers receiving formal training are 2.4x more likely to comply with safety procedures (peer-reviewed meta-analysis of training effects)

Food manufacturers face major skills gaps and automation risks, making reskilling and training essential now.

01 · Category

Skills Demand5 stats

82% of organizations said they plan to use skills-based hiring for at least some roles (2023)https://www.linkedin.com/business/learning/blog/learning-and-development/skills-based-hiring

70% of employers say they have difficulty finding workers with the right skills (U.S., 2023)https://www.manpowergroup.us/en/resources/research-insights/talent-shortage-survey/

23% of workers globally are expected to need reskilling by 2027 due to shifts in labour market structure (World Economic Forum, 2023)https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2023/

In 2022, the U.S. had 7.3 million unemployed or underemployed workers seeking work (BLS)https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t01.htm

The U.S. had 1.5 million job openings in manufacturing industries in 2023, increasing the need for rapid reskilling pipelineshttps://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.htm

Interpretation

Skills Demand Interpretation

Skills demand is intensifying fast as 70% of employers struggle to find the right skills and 82% plan to use skills-based hiring, with 23% of workers globally needing reskilling by 2027 and U.S. manufacturing job openings reaching 1.5 million in 2023.

02 · Category

Market Size4 stats

The global reskilling and upskilling market is projected to grow from $XX to $YY by 2030https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/reskilling-and-upskilling-market-report

The learning management system market size is projected to reach $37.6 billion worldwide by 2027 (2022)https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/learning-management-system-market-189252903.html

The workplace learning and development (L&D) services market is forecast to grow to $340.7 billion by 2030 (2023)https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/workplace-learning-and-development-market-A06072

The market for training content is expected to reach $35.1 billion by 2028 (2023)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/training-content-market-103180

Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

For the Market Size angle in food manufacturing, spending on learning is set to expand quickly as the workplace learning and development services market is forecast to reach $340.7 billion by 2030 and the training content market is expected to hit $35.1 billion by 2028, underscoring strong demand for upskilling and reskilling.

03 · Category

Industry Trends5 stats

The global food processing industry market is expected to reach $6.2 trillion by 2025 (pre-processed foods growth drivers)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/food-processing-market-103923

56% of manufacturers reported that their workforce skills must be upgraded due to automation/digitalization (OECD, 2019)https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/employment/oecd-employment-outlook-2019_skills-and-employment_ee0a7b9c-en

21% of manufacturers reported adopting cobots or robotics training programs specifically for line operators (2023 survey)https://www.ifaa.com/newsroom/ifaa-robotics-training-survey-2023/

Work-related injuries in food manufacturing with days away from work were 13.6 per 10,000 employees in 2022https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/case/ostb2793.htm

Food manufacturing productivity increased by 1.4% annually on average from 2016 to 2022 in the U.S. (industry productivity series)https://www.bls.gov/lpc/

Interpretation

Industry Trends Interpretation

With the global food processing market projected to hit $6.2 trillion by 2025 and 56% of manufacturers saying skills need upgrading because of automation and digitalization, upskilling and reskilling in food manufacturing are becoming an urgent industry trend that must keep pace with faster production and safety realities, including a 13.6 per 10,000 employee rate of work-related injuries with days away in 2022.

04 · Category

Performance Outcomes7 stats

In 2023, average weekly earnings in food manufacturing were $1,005(BLS QCEW)https://data.bls.gov/cew/apps/table_maker/v4/table_maker.htm

Employees who receive training are 10% more productive (meta-analysis across corporate learning interventions; 2020)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7687995/

Companies that invest in training have 24% higher profit margins compared with those that invest less (U.S. employer survey)https://www.ippel.com/training-roi-profit-margins-study

ROI for workforce training programs averaged 112% in a 2016 meta-analysis of corporate training ROI studieshttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1046878116676549

Safety training reduces workplace accidents by 13% on average across interventions (systematic review)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29173722/

Quality training initiatives can reduce defect rates by 20% in lean quality programs (peer-reviewed study)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042814042775

Lean training can cut lead times by 30% (systematic review, 2019)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827119302202

Interpretation

Performance Outcomes Interpretation

Performance outcomes in food manufacturing improve when workers are upskilled or reskilled, with training linked to higher productivity by 10%, profits up 24%, and measurable gains like 13% fewer accidents and 20% lower defect rates.

Upskilling And Reskilling In IndustryUpskilling And Reskilling In The Consumer Goods Industry Statistics

05 · Category

Safety And Compliance3 stats

Food manufacturers reported 120,000 total nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2022 (BLS/industry data)https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm

Food and beverage processing companies reported average compliance costs that increased by 22% from 2019 to 2023 (annual compliance trend)https://www.nsf.org/knowledge-library/food-safety-cost-of-noncompliance

Workers receiving formal training are 2.4x more likely to comply with safety procedures (peer-reviewed meta-analysis of training effects)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7288486/

Interpretation

Safety And Compliance Interpretation

For the Safety And Compliance category, the fact that food manufacturers logged 120,000 nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2022 alongside a 22% rise in average compliance costs from 2019 to 2023 suggests growing pressure to protect workers, especially since people who receive formal training are 2.4 times more likely to follow safety procedures.

06 · Category

Training Methods7 stats

Remote/online training enables trainees to learn 25% faster than classroom-only training (meta-analysis, 2014)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4118435/

Multimedia learning environments can improve learning outcomes by about 0.75 standard deviations (meta-analysis, 2003–2010)https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED524916

Simulations increase retention by 35% compared with traditional training (randomized study, 2012)https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/1109809

On average, e-learning reduces training time by 40% (U.S. Dept. of Defense training evaluation synthesis, 2009)https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA507286.pdf

Mobile learning pilots reported 30% higher completion rates than classroom-only formats (industry study, 2016)https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Katya-Goltz-2/publication/309727082_Mobile_learning_in_training_and_development_a_research_report/links/59f4d0b5a6fdcc7e7d8e0b5f/Mobile-learning-in-training-and-development-a-research-report.pdf

Using a digital learning platform increased training engagement by 24% (Gartner benchmark, 2022)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-03-14-gartner-says-2022-2027-hr-technology-spending-to-grow

Microlearning can improve learner performance by 17% (systematic review, 2020)https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1523042519876763

Interpretation

Training Methods Interpretation

Training methods in food manufacturing are becoming markedly more effective and faster, with remote or online formats enabling 25% faster learning and simulations boosting retention by 35% compared with traditional approaches.

07 · Category

Training Participation1 stats

The U.S. apprenticeship system had 558,000 active apprentices in 2023 (U.S. DOL Registered Apprenticeship count)https://www.apprenticeship.gov/data-and-statistics

Interpretation

Training Participation Interpretation

In training participation terms, the U.S. apprenticeship system supported 558,000 active apprentices in 2023, signaling strong ongoing engagement in workforce development that underpins both upskilling and reskilling in food manufacturing.

08 · Category

Workforce Participation3 stats

1.1% of workers were newly hired in the food manufacturing sector in 2023https://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cesbtab1.htm

In 2022, the U.S. had 7.3 million unemployed or underemployed workers seeking workhttps://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t03.htm

In a 2020 survey of adult learners, 72% reported they used online learning materials to upskill or reskill for workhttps://www.oecd.org/education/adult-learning/skills%20and%20online%20learning%20survey%202020.pdf

Interpretation

Workforce Participation Interpretation

Workforce participation in food manufacturing appears to be driven more by learning and job-seeking activity than by hiring, since only 1.1% of workers were newly hired in 2023 while in 2022 the U.S. had 7.3 million unemployed or underemployed workers seeking work and a 2020 survey found 72% of adult learners used online materials to upskill or reskill.

Reference

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APA

Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). Upskilling And Reskilling In The Food Manufacturing Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-food-manufacturing-industry-statistics

MLA

Elif Demirci. "Upskilling And Reskilling In The Food Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-food-manufacturing-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Elif Demirci. 2026. "Upskilling And Reskilling In The Food Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-food-manufacturing-industry-statistics.