United States - The skilled labor shortage continues to be a significant challenge for commercial bakers in 2025, according to a recent study by the American Bakers Association (ABA), American Society of Baking (ASB), and the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA).

The study, conducted by Cypress Research, surveyed bakers about the state of employment in skilled hourly positions, including machine operators and maintenance/engineering roles.

The study found that 60% of bakers reported a high or severe shortage of maintenance/engineering employees, though this is an improvement from 78% in 2016. In comparison, machine operator shortages have increased to 43%, up from 40% in 2016.

Bakers are also struggling with a skills deficit in technology and digital roles, particularly in programming and robotics.

A significant 86% of bakers report skill shortages when hiring or promoting for machine operator positions, with 61% facing the same issue for maintenance roles. These deficiencies are seen as key barriers to productivity and growth in the baking industry.

Many bakers are implementing internal training programs to develop unskilled employees into skilled workers, with 92% reporting the use of such programs, up from 76% in 2016.

Additionally, online job boards and social media recruiting have become more common as bakers adapt to the changing employment landscape.

The industry also faces retention challenges, with 85% of bakers reporting difficulties in maintaining staff due to long hours and demanding shifts. Despite efforts to improve the work environment, support for transportation, childcare, and housing remains minimal.

If you are looking to get involved in the industry, explore career opportunities here: https://www.careersinfood.com/info/jobseekers.cfm

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