ABA: brace yourself for bakery workforce shortages ahead

The American Bakers Association warns of more than 53K unfilled jobs by 2023.

Photo: Ivan J. Long/Pexels

The American Bakers Association (ABA), in partnership with research firm ndp|analytics, recently unveiled findings on the projected workforce deficits in the commercial baking industry.

As demand for skilled workers continues to grow, so does the need to address the workforce crisis. In a statement regarding the study, ABA President and CEO Eric Dell says, "The data speaks for itself and is a chasm that threatens the very foundation of our industry and requires immediate and collective action."

Economic impact

The ongoing workforce shortage in commercial baking is poised to escalate, with employers struggling to occupy roles and an aging workforce headed toward retirement. At the current rate, the industry will have 53,500 unfilled jobs by 2030.
Demand for skilled workers in commercial baking will be concentrated in the critical operational occupations of production, engineering and equipment maintenance, and shipping and distribution.
By 2030, the ripple effect of these shortages will be felt throughout the supply chain, adversely impacting communities and businesses nationwide.
The total impact (covering direct, indirect, and induced effects) reflects 148K forgone jobs, $9.7B forgone wages, $36.2B forgone output, and $3.3B in forgone taxes (direct only).

Projected Commercial Baking Shortage in 2030 by Region

Midwest: 13.4K unfilled jobs (IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WV, WI)
South: 12.9K unfilled jobs (AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA)
West: 10.3K unfilled jobs (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, UT, WA)
Northeast: 10.2 unfilled jobs (CT, DE, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT)
Plains: 6.6K unfilled jobs (CO, KS, MT, NE, NM, ND, OK, SD, TX, WY)

"The American Bakers Association champions the pressing issues of the commercial baking industry in Washington. Our advocacy underscores the urgency to maintain an uninterrupted supply of quality baked goods, pave prosperous career paths, and ensure food equity and security across our nation. In collaboration with stakeholders, we are dedicated to safeguarding the future of our industry and the communities we serve by identifying solutions to this growing workforce crisis," says Dell.

ABA’s members will be addressing this workforce issue and potential solutions with policymakers on November 14, during the Bakers Fly-In and Policy Summit.

For a more detailed breakdown of the regional impacts of workforce shortages in 2030, visit here.

Jenni Spinner is the chief editor of Snack Food and Wholesale with more than 25 years of experience in business-to-business communications. She has written extensively about food production, safety and packaging; pharmaceutical drug development; concrete and masonry construction; and more. She holds a Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Illinois. Jenni can be reached at spinnerj@bnpmedia.com.