Demand For Manufacturing Employees Expected To Grow

Over the next three years, West Virginia manufacturers say they will need 7,000 workers in a broad range of positions. 

Marshall University conducted a survey of manufacturers in the state through the Center for Business & Economic Research for the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC). 

The statewide survey of 83 companies was conducted from August to October.

Employers indicated they would need 2,700 full-time employees in 2026 alone. Those positions include: 

• 1,035 production/operators
• 309 laborers/logistics
• 251 quality assurance and testing
• 241 maintenance technicians
• 224 machinists
• 222 welders

In 2027 and 2028, the demand is expected to increase. Those position numbers will include: 

• 1,686 production/operators
• 470 laborers
• 344 quality assurance and testing
• 455 maintenance technicians
• 317 machinists
• 274 welders

The survey results show especially strong demand in the Huntington and Charleston metro regions. Nationwide, manufacturers report 380,000 job openings. 

“It is imperative that we attract more people of all ages to our workforce, said Bill Bissett, president of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association. “These good-paying jobs that are available here at home provide an opportunity for more people to pursue rewarding careers right here in the Mountain State.”

MAMC partners with community colleges to offer its Machinist Technology/CNC Program in Huntington and recently expanded the program to South Charleston. It also offers Welding Technology in Cabell County and will double capacity in fall 2026 with the opening of a new Advanced Welding and Robotics Technology Training Center on the site of the former ACF Industries in Huntington.

Because of the demand for industrial maintenance technicians in the region, MAMC partnered with more than two dozen regional manufacturers and Mountwest Community and Technical College to create a new career skills program called SMART (Systems Maintenance, Automation and Robotics Technology) in 2024. Classes are offered in Huntington and Point Pleasant.

For companies, MAMC offers short-term customized training, micro-credentials and industry-vetted apprenticeships approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. MAMC’s 38 professionals deliver on-site training at company locations across the state and region.

Learn more about MAMC’s manufacturing workforce programs.