The jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Oct. 7 showed a much-needed increase in consumer packaged goods jobs for last month, as demand for industry products remains high.
According to the Consumer Brands Association’s analysis of the September BLS data, 7,748 CPG jobs were added last month, a marked improvement from the revised loss of 1,200 jobs reported for August.
“We’re glad to see upward movement compared to the minimal growth in July and losses in August, but even with a comparatively big jump, a persistent labor gap continues to challenge our industry’s ability to meet high consumer demand,” said Katie Denis, VP of communications and research.
CPG job openings dipped last month to 111,000 openings, down from 113,000 the prior month. The required growth combined with the fact that CPG employment is 4.8 percent above its pre-pandemic level is evidence of how much growth the industry requires to keep up with new and unabated consumer demand.
The need for additional workers persists even as wages for CPG manufacturing jobs are 4.4 percent above September 2021. The average facility workers earn $21.29 per hour, up 15 percent from before the pandemic.
“An increase in wages has yet to correlate to the required increase in employees. The industry is actively building its value proposition to attract and retain workers – from tuition reimbursement programs to upskilling and reskilling opportunities – all to build a workforce better able to meet the needs of consumers,” Denis said.
The Consumer Brands Association champions the industry whose products Americans depend on every day, representing nearly 2,000 brands. From household and personal care to food and beverage products, the consumer packaged goods industry plays a role in powering the U.S. economy, contributing $2 trillion to U.S. GDP and supporting more than 20 million American jobs.
For more information, visit consumerbrandsassociation.org.
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