Manufacturing Supervisors

Corporate downsizing, the use of computers for tasks such as creating production schedules and budget plans, increasing automation in the manufacturing industry, and the increasing number of manufactured products that are being imported into the United States from foreign countries have creating a diminishing need for supervisors. However, there will be a need to replace job-changing or retiring managers.

Employment of industrial production managers is projected to increase by 3 percent from 2023 to 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. This is about as fast as the average for all occupations. To some extent, the future of the manufacturing supervisor job depends on the individual industry, whether it be automobiles or food products. Also, some manufacturing companies are "reshoring," which means their personnel and services that had been outsourced to other countries are being brought back to the U.S., which is creating some job opportunities for manufacturing workers.

Job candidates with higher levels of education (especially those with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management, business administration, industrial engineering and a master's degree in business administration or industrial management) and related work experience will fare the best in landing a supervisory position.