November 2023 | Vol. 12 / No. 16

EMPLOYMENT & UNEMPLOYMENT

As manufacturing sector changes, production occupations disappear: an analysis of employment from 2007–20

By Paul Garbarino and Elizabeth Cross

The Great Recession and the years of recovery that followed saw sweeping changes to the U.S. economy, including notable changes to the makeup of the labor market and industry employment. During the recession (2007–10), employment decreased for many occupations and industries including large declines for production occupations in the manufacturing sector.¹ In the decade that followed the Great Recession (2010–20), the economy largely recovered; however, the growth in manufacturing sector production jobs did not make up for the 1.5 million production jobs lost from 2007 to 2010. In addition, as the manufacturing sector grew, employment shares shifted away from production occupations to other occupational groups, such as business and finance, management, and engineering.

This Beyond the Numbers article uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program estimates for the nation and by industry to illustrate how employment of production occupations in specific manufacturing industries and the manufacturing sector changed from 2007 to 2020.² Focusing on changes in production occupation employment in the manufacturing sector illustrates the lasting effect recessions can have on the labor market and certain industries.

What are production occupations?

Production occupations are the largest occupational group in the manufacturing sector and make up approximately half of all manufacturing employment. They include occupations like assemblers and fabricators and metal and plastic workers.

Production occupation employment steeply decreased during the Great Recession

The Great Recession (2007–10) severely affected U.S. employment. According to OEWS estimates, total national employment fell by 5.4 percent, or 7.3 million jobs. Manufacturing sector employment fell by 18 percent, or 2.5 million jobs. Employment of production occupations in the manufacturing sector fell by 1.5 million jobs, a steep 20-percent decrease. Almost all production occupations in the manufacturing sector experienced employment decreases during this period. Table 1 shows manufacturing sector production occupations that were among those with the largest percentage of job losses from 2007 to 2010.

Table 1. Production occupations with the largest percentage employment decreases in the manufacturing sector, 2007–10
Occupation	2007 Employment (number of jobs)	2010 Employment (number of jobs)	Employment change 2007–10 (number of jobs lost)	Percent Change 2007–10
Power distributors and dispatchers	290	100	-190	-65.5%
Metal workers and plastic workers, all other	41,330	18,290	-23,040	-55.7
Timing device assemblers and adjusters	2,490	1,200	-1,290	-51.8
Semiconductor processing technicians	35,850	20,140	-15,710	-43.8
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	36,550	21,750	-14,800	-40.5
Shoe and leather workers and repairers	4,800	2,900	-1,900	-39.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Over half of jobs for all other metal workers and plastic workers vanished. Employment of semiconductor processing technicians decreased by 43.8 percent and metal and plastic drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders fell by 40.5 percent. Appendix table 1 shows data for all detailed production occupations.

Production occupation employment declined for over 75 percent of manufacturing industries during the Great Recession

From 2007 to 2010, 51 of 65 manufacturing industries experienced statistically significant production occupation employment declines.³ Table 2 shows manufacturing industries that were among those with the largest production occupation declines and growth during the Great Recession. Manufacturing and reproducing magnetic and optical media was among the industries with the largest percentage of job losses, losing over half of its production jobs. Appendix table 2 shows data for all manufacturing industries.

Table 2. Manufacturing sector industries with the largest production occupation percentage employment increases and decreases, 2007–10
Manufacturing industry	2007 Employment (number of jobs)	2010 Employment (number of jobs)	Employment change (number of jobs) 2007–10	Percent change 2007–10
Manufacturing and reproducing magnetic and optical media	11,950	5,640	-6,310	-52.8%
Apparel knitting mills	19,580	10,750	-8,830	-45.1
Veneer, plywood, and engineered wood product manufacturing	59,620	33,490	-26,130	-43.8
Motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing	121,500	69,700	-51,800	-42.6
Railroad rolling stock manufacturing	14,810	8,830	-5,980	-40.4
Dairy product manufacturing	55,850	60,530	4,680	8.4
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing	145,270	157,660	12,390	8.5
Other food manufacturing	64,280	69,950	5,670	8.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

During the Great Recession (2007–10), only 3 of 65 manufacturing industries experienced statistically significant employment increases of production occupations: other food manufacturing and aerospace product and parts manufacturing increased 8.8 and 8.5 percent, respectively, and dairy product manufacturing rose by 8.4 percent.⁴

Although the U.S. economy experienced steep declines in employment from 2007 to 2010, most industries recovered the jobs lost in the decade that followed; however, production occupations in the manufacturing sector did not.

Production occupations in manufacturing grew during the economic recovery (2010–20) but recovered only 13 percent of the jobs lost during the Great Recession

From 2010 to 2020, national employment increased by 12 million jobs, or 9.4 percent, recovering beyond pre-Great Recession levels. At the same time, the manufacturing sector recovered only about 600,000 (24 percent) of the 2.5 million jobs lost during the Great Recession. Similarly, production occupations within the manufacturing sector recovered only about 200,000 (13 percent) of the 1.5 million jobs lost.

Even though production occupations grew overall, many individual production jobs in manufacturing continued to see large declines during this period. Chart 1 shows manufacturing sector production occupations that were among those with the largest percentage of job gains and losses from 2010 to 2020.

View Chart Data

Chart 1. Manufacturing sector production occupations with the largest percentage job gains and losses, 2010–20
Occupation	Percent change, 2010–20
Chemical equipment operators and tenders	109.8
Plant and system operators, all other	77.7
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	76.7
Foundry mold and coremakers	57.9
Food batchmakers	53.2
Production occupations	3.6
Cutters and trimmers, hand	-58.8
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	-64.7
Photographic process workers and processing machine operators	-84.9
Model makers, wood	-86.9
Patternmakers, wood	-87.5
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employment for chemical equipment operators and tenders more than doubled between 2010 and 2020. Metal and plastic multiple machine tool operators and all other plant and system operators both saw more than 75 percent growth.

Some production occupation employment fell sharply, almost disappearing entirely. For example, wood patternmakers’ employment fell 87.5 percent. Photographic process workers and processing machine operators decreased 84.9 percent and metal and plastic drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders fell by 64.7 percent.

Many production occupations experienced growth during this time but were unable to surpass jobs lost between 2007 and 2010. Table 3 includes five selected occupations that experienced growth from 2010 to 2020 but did not reach employment levels equal to or exceeding their 2007 pre-recession employment.

Table 3. Percentage changes in selected production occupations, 2007–20
Occupation	Employment (number of jobs)			Percent change
Occupation	2007	2010	2020	2007–10	2010–20	2007–20
Semiconductor processing technicians	35,850	20,140	30,350	-43.8%	50.7%	-15.3%
Power distributors and dispatchers	290	100	150	-65.5	50.0	-48.3
Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	40,530	29,200	36,700	-28.0	25.7	-9.4
Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood	51,520	33,040	41,500	-35.9	25.6	-19.4
Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing	87,440	56,730	70,010	-35.1	23.4	-19.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Semiconductor processing technicians’ employment rose 50.7 percent from 2010 to 2020 but was still 15.3 percent below its 2007 level. The same was true for wood sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, whose employment increased 25.6 percent from 2010 to 2020 but was still 19.4 percent below 2007 employment.

Employment in manufacturing industries increased during the economic recovery (2010–20), but growth amounted to only a fraction of the jobs lost during the Great Recession

Many manufacturing industries experienced large production occupation employment declines during the Great Recession followed by considerable gains during the subsequent recovery, but their 2020 employment levels were still lower than their 2007 levels. Table 4 shows selected manufacturing industries that grew between 2010 and 2020 but saw overall decline from 2007 to 2020.

Table 4. Percentage changes in selected manufacturing industries, 2007–20
Manufacturing industry	Employment (number of jobs)			Percent change
Manufacturing industry	2007	2010	2020	2007–10	2010–20	2007–20
Motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing	121,500	69,700	102,260	-42.6%	46.7%	-15.8%
Railroad rolling stock manufacturing	14,810	8,830	11,440	-40.4	29.6	-22.8
Veneer, plywood, and engineered wood product manufacturing	59,620	33,490	43,120	-43.8	28.8	-27.7
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing	396,120	255,960	308,700	-35.4	20.6	-22.1
Sawmills and wood preservation	46,320	32,150	37,500	-30.6	16.6	-19.0
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing production occupation employment fell by 51,800 jobs during the Great Recession, then it increased by 32,560 jobs from 2010 to 2020 but was still 19,240 jobs (15.8 percent) below pre-Great Recession levels. Railroad rolling stock manufacturing; veneer, plywood, and engineered wood product manufacturing; motor vehicle parts manufacturing; and sawmills and wood preservation experienced a similar pattern of employment change.

Following the recession, most manufacturing industries did not recover jobs lost. From 2007 to 2020, 51 of 65 manufacturing industries experienced statistically significant production occupation employment declines, 7 experienced increases, and the remaining showed no significant changes. Table 5 shows manufacturing industries that were among those with the largest number of production occupation jobs lost from 2007 to 2020. Printing and related support activities, motor vehicle parts manufacturing, and cut and sew apparel manufacturing were among those industries with the biggest declines in employment levels. The printing and related support activities industry alone accounted for 10 percent of the decline in production occupations in the manufacturing sector.

Table 5. Manufacturing sector industries with the largest production occupation employment decreases, 2007–20
Manufacturing industry	Employment (number of jobs)			Jobs gained or lost
Manufacturing industry	2007	2010	2020	2007–10	2010–20	2007–20
Printing and related support activities	334,900	263,500	203,680	-71,400	-59,820	-131,220
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing	396,120	255,960	308,700	-140,160	52,740	-87,420
Cut and sew apparel manufacturing	123,250	84,190	44,140	-39,060	-40,050	-79,110
Machinery manufacturing (NAICS 3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) ^[1]	423,620	342,370	359,800	-81,250	17,430	-63,820
Fabricated metal product manufacturing (NAICS 3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) ^[1]	322,170	255,930	263,360	-66,240	7,430	-58,810
^[1] NAICS is the North American Industry Classification System, which groups establishments into industries based on the activity in which they are primarily engaged. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Changing employment trends in the manufacturing sector, 2007–20

Looking at the cumulative change from 2007 to 2020 gives us a better idea of how the employment decrease of the Great Recession and the increase of the subsequent recovery interacted to affect manufacturing production employment. According to OEWS estimates, U.S. employment increased by 4.7 million jobs, or 3.5 percent, from 2007 to 2020. However, over the same period, total employment in the manufacturing sector fell by 1.9 million jobs, a 13-percent decrease. Most of the employment decline occurred in manufacturing sector production occupations, which dropped by 1.3 million jobs, or 17 percent over the period.

As production occupation employment fell from 2007 to 2020, the composition of the manufacturing workforce shifted. Table 6 shows major occupational groups with large percentage point increases and decreases in their share of the manufacturing sector’s total employment from 2007 to 2020. Production occupations had an employment share of about 52.6 percent in 2007, but their share fell to 50.1 percent in 2020. Shares of business and financial operations grew from 3.2 to 4.4 percent and management employment rose from 4.9 to 5.7 percent. Architecture and engineering occupations also accounted for a higher share of manufacturing employment in 2020 than in 2007.

Table 6. Major occupational groups with the largest percentage point increases and decreases in employment share of manufacturing sector’s total employment, 2007–20
Occupational group	Employment (number of jobs)			Percent share			Change in percent share
Occupational group	2007	2010	2020	2007	2010	2020	2007–20
All occupations	13,960,700	11,494,240	12,105,940	100%	100%	100%	0
Business and financial operations	453,650	404,280	531,370	3.2	3.5	4.4	1.1
Management	685,020	631,630	695,250	4.9	5.5	5.7	0.8
Architecture and engineering	803,280	715,670	796,960	5.8	6.2	6.6	0.8
Transportation and material moving	1,360,900	1,090,640	1,069,850	9.7	9.5	8.8	-0.9
Office and administrative support	1,253,770	1,037,820	970,200	9.0	9.0	8.0	-1.0
Production	7,339,760	5,857,720	6,070,410	52.6	51.0	50.1	-2.4
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Conclusion

Employment across many occupations and industries declined during the Great Recession and recovered in the decade after. Despite the total number of production occupation jobs in the manufacturing sector increasing from 2010 to 2020, most production occupations experienced overall losses from 2007 to 2020 and have not returned to their 2007 pre-Great Recession levels. As the economy recovered, the manufacturing sector had a shifting makeup of occupations. The share of production occupations fell, while management, business and financial operations, and architecture and engineering occupations saw employment share increases.

Appendix

The 2007 and 2010 OEWS occupational employment estimates were cross walked to match the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. Occupations that could not be considered comparable because of changes in SOC classifications were excluded. The 2007 and 2010 four-digit manufacturing industry employment estimates were cross walked to match the 2017 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Industries that could not be considered comparable due to changes in NAICS classification were excluded. All OEWS data are available at https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm. SOC crosswalks are available at https://www.bls.gov/soc. NAICS crosswalks are available at https://data.bls.gov/cew/apps/bls_naics/v3/bls_naics_app.htm#tab=transition&naics=2022.

Table A. Production occupation employment changes in the manufacturing sector, 2007–20 and subperiods
SOC	SOC Title	2007 Employment	2010 Employment	2020 Employment	Difference in employment, 2007–10	Difference in employment, 2010–20	Difference in employment, 2007–20	Percent Change, 2007–10	Percent Change, 2010–20	Percent Change, 2007–20
51-0000	Production occupations	7,339,760	5,857,720	6,070,410	-1,482,040	212,690	-1,269,350	-20.2%	3.6%	-17.3%
51-1011	First-line supervisors of production and operating workers	495,040	404,770	438,960	-90,270	34,190	-56,080	-18.2	8.4	-11.3
51-2011	Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers	31,810	33,850	34,370	2,040	520	2,560	6.4	1.5	8.0
51-2021	Coil winders, tapers, and finishers	20,970	14,250	10,960	-6,720	-3,290	-10,010	-32.0	-23.1	-47.7
51-2028	Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers	252,630	206,400	247,320	-46,230	40,920	-5,310	-18.3	19.8	-2.1
51-2031	Engine and other machine assemblers	37,250	30,600	37,400	-6,650	6,800	150	-17.9	22.2	0.4
51-2041	Structural metal fabricators and fitters	92,310	68,540	56,150	-23,770	-12,390	-36,160	-25.8	-18.1	-39.2
51-2051	Fiberglass laminators and fabricators	29,600	17,940	^[1]	-11,660	^[1]	^[1]	-39.4	^[1]	^[1]
51-2061	Timing device assemblers and adjusters	2,490	1,200	^[1]	-1,290	^[1]	^[1]	-51.8	^[1]	^[1]
51-2090	Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators	1,081,660	838,960	935,430	-242,700	96,470	-146,230	-22.4	11.5	-13.5
51-3011	Bakers	51,770	48,890	57,340	-2,880	8,450	5,570	-5.6	17.3	10.8
51-3021	Butchers and meat cutters	14,740	11,360	9,210	-3,380	-2,150	-5,530	-22.9	-18.9	-37.5
51-3022	Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers	114,650	125,270	118,830	10,620	-6,440	4,180	9.3	-5.1	3.6
51-3023	Slaughterers and meat packers	106,080	85,400	72,130	-20,680	-13,270	-33,950	-19.5	-15.5	-32.0
51-3091	Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders	14,920	16,040	14,420	1,120	-1,620	-500	7.5	-10.1	-3.4
51-3092	Food batchmakers	81,000	81,680	125,170	680	43,490	44,170	0.8	53.2	54.5
51-3093	Food cooking machine operators and tenders	27,740	22,190	22,230	-5,550	40	-5,510	-20.0	0.2	-19.9
51-4021	Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	92,380	74,560	65,790	-17,820	-8,770	-26,590	-19.3	-11.8	-28.8
51-4022	Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	29,050	21,060	12,600	-7,990	-8,460	-16,450	-27.5	-40.2	-56.6
51-4023	Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	36,210	31,040	32,560	-5,170	1,520	-3,650	-14.3	4.9	-10.1
51-4031	Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	216,030	155,210	158,880	-60,820	3,670	-57,150	-28.2	2.4	-26.5
51-4032	Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	36,550	21,750	7,680	-14,800	-14,070	-28,870	-40.5	-64.7	-79.0
51-4033	Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	93,860	68,430	66,050	-25,430	-2,380	-27,810	-27.1	-3.5	-29.6
51-4034	Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	59,880	39,970	22,580	-19,910	-17,390	-37,300	-33.2	-43.5	-62.3
51-4035	Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	25,600	19,950	13,050	-5,650	-6,900	-12,550	-22.1	-34.6	-49.0
51-4041	Machinists	328,270	280,120	295,480	-48,150	15,360	-32,790	-14.7	5.5	-10.0
51-4051	Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	18,520	14,270	14,590	-4,250	320	-3,930	-22.9	2.2	-21.2
51-4052	Pourers and casters, metal	15,430	11,120	6,990	-4,310	-4,130	-8,440	-27.9	-37.1	-54.7
51-4061	Model makers, metal and plastic	8,150	5,030	2,340	-3,120	-2,690	-5,810	-38.3	-53.5	-71.3
51-4062	Patternmakers, metal and plastic	7,020	4,300	2,390	-2,720	-1,910	-4,630	-38.7	-44.4	-66.0
51-4071	Foundry mold and coremakers	13,920	9,930	15,680	-3,990	5,750	1,760	-28.7	57.9	12.6
51-4072	Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	140,920	110,050	140,540	-30,870	30,490	-380	-21.9	27.7	-0.3
51-4081	Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	81,480	65,140	115,090	-16,340	49,950	33,610	-20.1	76.7	41.2
51-4111	Tool and die makers	90,510	64,570	57,910	-25,940	-6,660	-32,600	-28.7	-10.3	-36.0
51-4121	Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	258,650	203,260	265,240	-55,390	61,980	6,590	-21.4	30.5	2.5
51-4122	Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders	46,290	35,160	28,980	-11,130	-6,180	-17,310	-24.0	-17.6	-37.4
51-4191	Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	24,860	17,710	15,360	-7,150	-2,350	-9,500	-28.8	-13.3	-38.2
51-4192	Layout workers, metal and plastic	7,860	7,870	5,600	10	-2,270	-2,260	0.1	-28.8	-28.8
51-4193	Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	40,530	29,200	36,700	-11,330	7,500	-3,830	-28.0	25.7	-9.4
51-4194	Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	14,850	10,000	4,160	-4,850	-5,840	-10,690	-32.7	-58.4	-72.0
51-4199	Metal workers and plastic workers, all other	41,330	18,290	10,880	-23,040	-7,410	-30,450	-55.7	-40.5	-73.7
51-5111	Prepress technicians and workers	43,650	33,090	20,340	-10,560	-12,750	-23,310	-24.2	-38.5	-53.4
51-6011	Laundry and dry-cleaning workers	^[1]	1,190	720	^[1]	-470	^[1]	^[1]	-39.5	^[1]
51-6021	Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials	7,560	5,520	2,460	-2,040	-3,060	-5,100	-27.0	-55.4	-67.5
51-6031	Sewing machine operators	176,910	128,370	92,780	-48,540	-35,590	-84,130	-27.4	-27.7	-47.6
51-6041	Shoe and leather workers and repairers	4,800	2,900	3,280	-1,900	380	-1,520	-39.6	13.1	-31.7
51-6042	Shoe machine operators and tenders	4,000	3,170	3,830	-830	660	-170	-20.8	20.8	-4.3
51-6051	Sewers, hand	3,720	2,950	1,960	-770	-990	-1,760	-20.7	-33.6	-47.3
51-6052	Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers	5,980	4,040	2,490	-1,940	-1,550	-3,490	-32.4	-38.4	-58.4
51-6061	Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders	17,690	12,500	6,680	-5,190	-5,820	-11,010	-29.3	-46.6	-62.2
51-6062	Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders	18,730	12,930	11,390	-5,800	-1,540	-7,340	-31.0	-11.9	-39.2
51-6063	Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders	32,820	20,870	18,300	-11,950	-2,570	-14,520	-36.4	-12.3	-44.2
51-6064	Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders	40,020	27,460	24,610	-12,560	-2,850	-15,410	-31.4	-10.4	-38.5
51-6091	Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers	15,140	14,670	15,740	-470	1,070	600	-3.1	7.3	4.0
51-6092	Fabric and apparel patternmakers	6,800	5,070	3,140	-1,730	-1,930	-3,660	-25.4	-38.1	-53.8
51-6093	Upholsterers	24,670	17,610	17,010	-7,060	-600	-7,660	-28.6	-3.4	-31.0
51-6099	Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers, all other	11,020	7,440	8,110	-3,580	670	-2,910	-32.5	9.0	-26.4
51-7011	Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters	109,660	71,590	77,750	-38,070	6,160	-31,910	-34.7	8.6	-29.1
51-7021	Furniture finishers	16,170	9,980	10,400	-6,190	420	-5,770	-38.3	4.2	-35.7
51-7031	Model makers, wood	1,460	1,450	190	-10	-1,260	-1,270	-0.7	-86.9	-87.0
51-7032	Patternmakers, wood	1,940	1,200	150	-740	-1,050	-1,790	-38.1	-87.5	-92.3
51-7041	Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood	51,520	33,040	41,500	-18,480	8,460	-10,020	-35.9	25.6	-19.4
51-7042	Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing	87,440	56,730	70,010	-30,710	13,280	-17,430	-35.1	23.4	-19.9
51-7099	Woodworkers, all other	8,210	6,020	4,790	-2,190	-1,230	-3,420	-26.7	-20.4	-41.7
51-8012	Power distributors and dispatchers	290	100	150	-190	50	-140	-65.5	50.0	-48.3
51-8013	Power plant operators	1,100	690	690	-410	0	-410	-37.3	0.0	-37.3
51-8021	Stationary engineers and boiler operators	8,600	8,130	6,080	-470	-2,050	-2,520	-5.5	-25.2	-29.3
51-8031	Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators	3,460	3,310	4,870	-150	1,560	1,410	-4.3	47.1	40.8
51-8091	Chemical plant and system operators	46,580	42,070	26,250	-4,510	-15,820	-20,330	-9.7	-37.6	-43.6
51-8092	Gas plant operators	820	1,540	710	720	-830	-110	87.8	-53.9	-13.4
51-8093	Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers	22,820	23,340	21,370	520	-1,970	-1,450	2.3	-8.4	-6.4
51-8099	Plant and system operators, all other	4,050	3,180	5,650	-870	2,470	1,600	-21.5	77.7	39.5
51-9011	Chemical equipment operators and tenders	46,290	43,210	90,670	-3,080	47,460	44,380	-6.7	109.8	95.9
51-9012	Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders	38,100	32,520	40,810	-5,580	8,290	2,710	-14.6	25.5	7.1
51-9021	Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders	30,020	22,570	20,890	-7,450	-1,680	-9,130	-24.8	-7.4	-30.4
51-9022	Grinding and polishing workers, hand	40,690	25,510	14,370	-15,180	-11,140	-26,320	-37.3	-43.7	-64.7
51-9023	Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders	127,470	113,800	96,330	-13,670	-17,470	-31,140	-10.7	-15.4	-24.4
51-9031	Cutters and trimmers, hand	23,640	15,810	6,520	-7,830	-9,290	-17,120	-33.1	-58.8	-72.4
51-9032	Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders	71,020	53,680	45,300	-17,340	-8,380	-25,720	-24.4	-15.6	-36.2
51-9041	Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders	84,770	62,330	59,480	-22,440	-2,850	-25,290	-26.5	-4.6	-29.8
51-9051	Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders	23,030	17,400	15,080	-5,630	-2,320	-7,950	-24.4	-13.3	-34.5
51-9061	Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers	330,620	281,190	352,480	-49,430	71,290	21,860	-15.0	25.4	6.6
51-9071	Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers	9,180	7,400	5,210	-1,780	-2,190	-3,970	-19.4	-29.6	-43.2
51-9081	Dental laboratory technicians	36,440	31,640	25,500	-4,800	-6,140	-10,940	-13.2	-19.4	-30.0
51-9082	Medical appliance technicians	8,170	9,440	9,070	1,270	-370	900	15.5	-3.9	11.0
51-9083	Ophthalmic laboratory technicians	12,430	9,640	11,000	-2,790	1,360	-1,430	-22.4	14.1	-11.5
51-9111	Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders	240,800	239,820	289,200	-980	49,380	48,400	-0.4	20.6	20.1
51-9123	Painting, coating, and decorating workers	16,170	10,530	8,390	-5,640	-2,140	-7,780	-34.9	-20.3	-48.1
51-9124	Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders	113,340	84,230	93,980	-29,110	9,750	-19,360	-25.7	11.6	-17.1
51-9141	Semiconductor processing technicians	35,850	20,140	30,350	-15,710	10,210	-5,500	-43.8	50.7	-15.3
51-9151	Photographic process workers and processing machine operators	3,840	3,710	560	-130	-3,150	-3,280	-3.4	-84.9	-85.4
51-9161	Computer numerically controlled tool operators	137,210	120,510	139,500	-16,700	18,990	2,290	-12.2	15.8	1.7
51-9162	Computer numerically controlled tool programmers	16,360	15,660	21,940	-700	6,280	5,580	-4.3	40.1	34.1
51-9191	Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders	21,110	14,640	11,490	-6,470	-3,150	-9,620	-30.6	-21.5	-45.6
51-9192	Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders	14,710	16,130	11,730	1,420	-4,400	-2,980	9.7	-27.3	-20.3
51-9193	Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders	8,900	8,050	6,540	-850	-1,510	-2,360	-9.6	-18.8	-26.5
51-9194	Etchers and engravers	6,420	4,740	5,050	-1,680	310	-1,370	-26.2	6.5	-21.3
51-9195	Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic	35,670	28,590	31,910	-7,080	3,320	-3,760	-19.8	11.6	-10.5
51-9196	Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders	104,460	83,460	92,050	-21,000	8,590	-12,410	-20.1	10.3	-11.9
51-9197	Tire builders	19,080	14,030	17,690	-5,050	3,660	-1,390	-26.5	26.1	-7.3
51-9198	Helpers--production workers	336,580	253,910	158,590	-82,670	-95,320	-177,990	-24.6	-37.5	-52.9
51-9199	Production workers, all other	153,490	141,730	104,590	-11,760	-37,140	-48,900	-7.7	-26.2	-31.9
^[1] Estimate not released. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table B. Production occupation employment changes in four-digit manufacturing industries, 2007–20 and subperiods
NAICS	NAICS Titles	2007 Employment	2010 Employment	2020 Employment	Difference in employment, 2007–10	Difference in employment, 2010–20	Difference in employment, 2007–20	Percent Change, 2007–10	Percent Change, 2010–20	Percent Change, 2007–20
311100	Animal food manufacturing	19,990	20,440	28,940	450	8,500	8,950	2.3%	41.6%	44.8%
311200	Grain and oilseed milling	28,140	29,550	29,320	1,410	-230	1,180	5.0	-0.8	4.2
311300	Sugar and confectionery product manufacturing	36,810	32,450	34,080	-4,360	1,630	-2,730	-11.8	5.0	-7.4
311400	Fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty food manufacturing	87,630	86,840	88,750	-790	1,910	1,120	-0.9	2.2	1.3
311500	Dairy product manufacturing	55,850	60,530	72,770	4,680	12,240	16,920	8.4	20.2	30.3
311600	Animal slaughtering and processing	344,160	328,000	312,820	-16,160	-15,180	-31,340	-4.7	-4.6	-9.1
311700	Seafood product preparation and packaging	20,530	19,640	14,760	-890	-4,880	-5,770	-4.3	-24.8	-28.1
311800	Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing	134,480	135,970	145,750	1,490	9,780	11,270	1.1	7.2	8.4
311900	Other food manufacturing	64,280	69,950	98,140	5,670	28,190	33,860	8.8	40.3	52.7
312100	Beverage manufacturing	47,700	46,530	66,940	-1,170	20,410	19,240	-2.5	43.9	40.3
312200	Tobacco manufacturing	11,870	7,340	5,220	-4,530	-2,120	-6,650	-38.2	-28.9	-56.0
313100	Fiber, yarn, and thread mills	29,560	18,790	14,940	-10,770	-3,850	-14,620	-36.4	-20.5	-49.5
313200	Fabric mills	50,410	32,800	29,740	-17,610	-3,060	-20,670	-34.9	-9.3	-41.0
313300	Textile and fabric finishing and fabric coating mills	31,220	22,050	13,490	-9,170	-8,560	-17,730	-29.4	-38.8	-56.8
314100	Textile furnishings mills	52,980	37,350	26,380	-15,630	-10,970	-26,600	-29.5	-29.4	-50.2
314900	Other textile product mills	46,060	41,350	37,480	-4,710	-3,870	-8,580	-10.2	-9.4	-18.6
315100	Apparel knitting mills	19,580	10,750	5,040	-8,830	-5,710	-14,540	-45.1	-53.1	-74.3
315200	Cut and sew apparel manufacturing	123,250	84,190	44,140	-39,060	-40,050	-79,110	-31.7	-47.6	-64.2
315900	Apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing	12,210	8,970	6,510	-3,240	-2,460	-5,700	-26.5	-27.4	-46.7
316100	Leather and hide tanning and finishing	3,460	2,180	1,770	-1,280	-410	-1,690	-37.0	-18.8	-48.8
316200	Footwear manufacturing	12,150	9,770	6,700	-2,380	-3,070	-5,450	-19.6	-31.4	-44.9
316900	Other leather and allied product manufacturing	9,400	6,790	6,910	-2,610	120	-2,490	-27.8	1.8	-26.5
321100	Sawmills and wood preservation	46,320	32,150	37,500	-14,170	5,350	-8,820	-30.6	16.6	-19.0
321200	Veneer, plywood, and engineered wood product manufacturing	59,620	33,490	43,120	-26,130	9,630	-16,500	-43.8	28.8	-27.7
322100	Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills	68,720	56,670	47,580	-12,050	-9,090	-21,140	-17.5	-16.0	-30.8
322200	Converted paper product manufacturing	183,640	156,830	144,850	-26,810	-11,980	-38,790	-14.6	-7.6	-21.1
323100	Printing and related support activities	334,900	263,500	203,680	-71,400	-59,820	-131,220	-21.3	-22.7	-39.2
324100	Petroleum and coal products manufacturing	48,220	45,730	46,870	-2,490	1,140	-1,350	-5.2	2.5	-2.8
325400	Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing	81,920	80,030	97,050	-1,890	17,020	15,130	-2.3	21.3	18.5
326100	Plastics product manufacturing	368,640	288,630	329,400	-80,010	40,770	-39,240	-21.7	14.1	-10.6
326200	Rubber product manufacturing	102,050	79,970	80,440	-22,080	470	-21,610	-21.6	0.6	-21.2
327000	Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing	199,370	148,570	152,310	-50,800	3,740	-47,060	-25.5	2.5	-23.6
331100	Iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing	48,960	40,470	40,310	-8,490	-160	-8,650	-17.3	-0.4	-17.7
331200	Steel product manufacturing from purchased steel	34,390	29,540	30,760	-4,850	1,220	-3,630	-14.1	4.1	-10.6
331300	Alumina and aluminum production and processing	39,590	29,230	30,070	-10,360	840	-9,520	-26.2	2.9	-24.0
331400	Nonferrous metal (except aluminum) production and processing	38,900	31,530	32,070	-7,370	540	-6,830	-18.9	1.7	-17.6
331500	Foundries	109,990	74,120	72,340	-35,870	-1,780	-37,650	-32.6	-2.4	-34.2
332700	Machine shops; turned product; and screw, nut, and bolt manufacturing	254,900	212,460	237,900	-42,440	25,440	-17,000	-16.6	12.0	-6.7
332800	Coating, engraving, heat treating, and allied activities	93,940	73,420	83,150	-20,520	9,730	-10,790	-21.8	13.3	-11.5
333500	Metalworking machinery manufacturing	128,120	96,020	105,730	-32,100	9,710	-22,390	-25.1	10.1	-17.5
333600	Engine, turbine, and power transmission equipment manufacturing	59,220	47,700	41,440	-11,520	-6,260	-17,780	-19.5	-13.1	-30.0
334200	Communications equipment manufacturing	34,250	28,760	19,720	-5,490	-9,040	-14,530	-16.0	-31.4	-42.4
334300	Audio and video equipment manufacturing	10,860	7,090	5,310	-3,770	-1,780	-5,550	-34.7	-25.1	-51.1
334400	Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing	193,780	153,900	146,130	-39,880	-7,770	-47,650	-20.6	-5.0	-24.6
334500	Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing	120,500	107,700	111,250	-12,800	3,550	-9,250	-10.6	3.3	-7.7
334600	Manufacturing and reproducing magnetic and optical media	11,950	5,640	2,480	-6,310	-3,160	-9,470	-52.8	-56.0	-79.2
335100	Electric lighting equipment manufacturing	33,210	23,130	18,870	-10,080	-4,260	-14,340	-30.4	-18.4	-43.2
335200	Household appliance manufacturing	44,990	36,540	37,270	-8,450	730	-7,720	-18.8	2.0	-17.2
335300	Electrical equipment manufacturing	94,500	73,180	70,160	-21,320	-3,020	-24,340	-22.6	-4.1	-25.8
335900	Other electrical equipment and component manufacturing	81,080	63,200	70,880	-17,880	7,680	-10,200	-22.1	12.2	-12.6
336100	Motor vehicle manufacturing	158,920	101,280	161,500	-57,640	60,220	2,580	-36.3	59.5	1.6
336200	Motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing	121,500	69,700	102,260	-51,800	32,560	-19,240	-42.6	46.7	-15.8
336300	Motor vehicle parts manufacturing	396,120	255,960	308,700	-140,160	52,740	-87,420	-35.4	20.6	-22.1
336400	Aerospace product and parts manufacturing	145,270	157,660	163,430	12,390	5,770	18,160	8.5	3.7	12.5
336500	Railroad rolling stock manufacturing	14,810	8,830	11,440	-5,980	2,610	-3,370	-40.4	29.6	-22.8
336600	Ship and boat building	77,380	54,140	59,060	-23,240	4,920	-18,320	-30.0	9.1	-23.7
336900	Other transportation equipment manufacturing	25,360	18,530	18,060	-6,830	-470	-7,300	-26.9	-2.5	-28.8
337900	Other furniture related product manufacturing	28,990	21,210	18,570	-7,780	-2,640	-10,420	-26.8	-12.4	-35.9
339100	Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing	167,260	166,060	156,270	-1,200	-9,790	-10,990	-0.7	-5.9	-6.6
339900	Other miscellaneous manufacturing	184,740	136,800	130,270	-47,940	-6,530	-54,470	-25.9	-4.8	-29.5
3250A1	Chemical manufacturing (NAICS 3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)	182,570	162,010	156,260	-20,560	-5,750	-26,310	-11.3	-3.5	-14.4
3250A2	Chemical manufacturing (NAICS 3255 and 3256 only)	74,720	67,900	78,240	-6,820	10,340	3,520	-9.1	15.2	4.7
3320A1	Fabricated metal product manufacturing (NAICS 3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)	322,170	255,930	263,360	-66,240	7,430	-58,810	-20.6	2.9	-18.3
3320A2	Fabricated metal product manufacturing (NAICS 3323 and 3324 only)	293,880	231,560	263,660	-62,320	32,100	-30,220	-21.2	13.9	-10.3
3330A1	Machinery manufacturing (NAICS 3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)	423,620	342,370	359,800	-81,250	17,430	-63,820	-19.2	5.1	-15.1
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This Beyond the Numbers article was prepared by Paul Garbarino and Elizabeth Cross, an economist in the Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Email: cross.elizabeth@bls.gov; telephone: (202) 691-5089.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. This article is in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission.

Suggested citation:

Paul Garbarino and Elizabeth Cross, “As manufacturing sector changes, production occupations disappear: an analysis of employment from 2007–20 ,” Beyond the Numbers: Employment & Unemployment, vol. 12, no. 16 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2023), https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-12/as-manufacturing-sector-changes-production-occupations-disappear-1.htm

Notes

¹ Although the Great Recession began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, the data in this article reference time periods just before and just after the Great Recession according to the availability of occupational data. For the purposes of this analysis, the “Great Recession” refers to 2007 to 2010 OEWS data. Manufacturing sector data represent North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) sector 31-33 Manufacturing. More information about the NAICS and industry definitions is available in the 2017 NAICS manual.

² All data featured in this analysis are from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program unless specifically stated otherwise. The OEWS program produces occupational employment and wage estimates annually for nearly 800 occupations at the national, state, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area, and industry levels. While the OEWS program data are not designed for time-series analyses, the calculations in this analysis were carefully performed and consider the limitations of the OEWS program. For more information regarding OEWS methodology, see the OEWS Handbook of Methods chapter or technical notes.

³ In May 2020, OEWS published estimates for 68 4-digit manufacturing sector industries. However, 4 were excluded from this analysis due to NAICS changes. NAICS 327000 was included in this analysis as a 4-digit industry because no 4-digit industry under 327000 was published. Therefore, the sum of 4-digit industries that were significance tested is 65.

⁴ The remaining eleven experienced statistically insignificant changes.

Publish Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2023