Meatcutters and Meat Packers

Employment of slaughterers and meat packers is expected to grow slower than the average for all careers through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The growing practice of central cutting—that is, the butchering and wrapping of meat in one location such as a meatpacking plant for distribution to other outlets is a trend that will effect employment for meatcutters. Central cutting increases efficiency by permitting cutters to specialize in certain types of meats and cuts. The trend of delivering prepackaged meat to wholesalers and retailers will result in fewer employment opportunities for meatcutters at the retail level. Additionally all of the jobs at a central cutting plant can be performed by semi-skilled workers, rather than journeyworker meatcutters.

The growing automation of many meatpacking and processing activities is expected to reduce the need for production workers. Workers displaced by machines are usually moved to other jobs in the plant, so entering the industry as an unskilled worker has become more difficult. Because turnover among these workers is fairly high, however, there are jobs available for some entry-level workers. As they become more skilled, it may be easier for them to find work at different plants. The increased competition for positions, however, has clearly given an edge to high school graduates.

The increasing health consciousness of the American public is another reason for the decline in demand for skilled meatcutters. The consumption of red meat has decreased as people eat larger quantities of fish and poultry. The increased consumption of poultry, which can be grown to a standard size and therefore is easier to process using automated equipment, has led to less demand for people skilled in manual meatcutting techniques.

In 2003, mad cow disease, a brain-wasting disease that can be transmitted to humans who eat contaminated beef products, was discovered in a single cow in the state of Washington. As a result, more than 30 countries banned U.S. beef products. This caused a drop in cattle prices and some layoffs in meatpacking plants. The federal government instituted a variety of safety measures to ensure the health of U.S. cattle. No more cases of mad cow disease or other microbial hazards were discovered in U.S. cattle, and the import bans were later lifted.

Despite these developments, the consumer demand for meat will remain strong, and new workers will always be needed to replace older workers as they retire, change jobs, or leave the profession for other reasons.