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Dealing with Labour Shortage in Food Manufacturing

Naama Aharoni  |  May 3, 2023

How to manage labour shortage as an SMB food manufacturer?

The global food production industry has experienced a severe shortage of skilled labor for the past several years. This is partly due to an aging workforce, difficulty attracting new employees, shifts in consumer preferences, and the rise of automation requiring specialized capabilities.

At the same time, many SMB food manufacturers rely on traditional manual processes to manage their operations, which can be time-consuming, error-prone, and labor-intensive. As the industry continues to face a labor shortage, it is becoming increasingly difficult for many SMBs to remain competitive and find enough skilled workers to manage their operations.

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Food manufacturers often struggle to find and retain qualified workers as there is no streamlined process for recruitment or onboarding new staff. Additionally, companies may lack the necessary systems and infrastructure to support automated technologies and other digital solutions that could help reduce the need for manual labor.

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The labor shortage can significantly impact SMB food manufacturers, who may need more resources or financial flexibility to compete with larger companies regarding wages and benefits. This can lead to an inability to keep up with production demands or maintain consistent quality standards due to a lack of skilled workers.

Currently, most food manufacturers are addressing the labor shortage by increasing wages, providing better benefits to existing staff, and attempting to hire more people into their workforce. Additionally, they may be implementing automated technologies to reduce the need for manual labor.

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However, automation can attract workers.

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