Have you just been let go from your restaurant role or any other job in the food industry? Sadly, you’re not alone. According to Reuters, the U.S. economy created the fewest jobs in five months in October, while in November, the Labor Department claimed 3.6 million people have been out of work for more than six months.

But thankfully, if you already have skills in the food industry, there are still jobs available that match your skillset if you look to other avenues. Your next career could be in food production!

What Is The Food Production Industry?

The food industry is one of the United States’ largest manufacturing sectors, accounting for more than 10% of all shipments. That’s not surprising when you think of the 330 million people who all rely on the industry to survive. Thus, there will always be a constant flow of work in the sector, so job security is rated very highly. What’s more, there’s plenty of room to jump between roles with many different areas to choose from. You’ll also have ample opportunities to develop your skills, with many employers offering competitive incentives to progress. 

One of the most common roles within the food industry – outside of the traditional restaurant roles – is food production work. At times, the shifts may push you to go above and beyond, but there are plenty of rewards, including the ability to work in a friendly environment. And you’ll pick up plenty of transferable skills along the way by working on the production lines, including problem-solving, creativity, logical thinking, good communication, teamwork, and leadership. 

Are There Jobs Available In Food Production Now?

Absolutely, yes! Food production is an undersaturated market in terms of employment and is crying out for new staffers like you!

Let’s take a prepackaged pizza as an example. The pizza will go through several different phases throughout the course of the production. There is the dough, and all that goes into the creation of the base. Then, each of the toppings. The freezing and packaging of the product is a separate endeavor.  And that’s just one product. We have clients working in each of the following areas (and more clients besides these): 

 – flavorings and toppings for coffee

– frozen foods

– fresh direct produce

– baking supplies

– baked goods

– dairy products

There are so many different cogs in the food production chain, with different roles always needing to be filled at various stages. Although several of these jobs can be done by machinery and robots, humans are still required to do many of the more complex tasks and oversee productivity.

What Qualifications Do I Need?

What do I need to get a job in the food production industry? The good news is that for most entry-level roles, the job requirements are often very low. Some employers will ask for basic pass grades, while others may not require any education history at all. A degree would stand out amongst other applicants, but it certainly isn’t a requirement for an entry-level food production role.

Many people switching from other industries – the hospitality industry included – may target a role at a higher level. Supervisory and management roles are frequently available but may require a relevant qualification or significant industry experience. These requirements will vary from company to company, so be sure to apply to more than one job.

How Do I Find These Jobs? 

Spectra360 works with several companies that produce, package, and transport food products. We have an abundance of open jobs in the food production industry. You can see all open positions on our jobs page, by clicking here: www.spectra360jobs.com

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