Feeding the economy: employment growth in food and beverage manufacturing expected to continue through the 2024–34 decade

Food and beverage manufacturing is projected to add the most jobs of any manufacturing sector from 2024 to 2034. This article examines the factors driving the expected employment and output growth in the food and beverage manufacturing sector, including a growing U.S. population and evolving consumer tastes. While the continued adoption of technology is expected to contribute to larger output in the sector, technology adoption is projected to have varying employment effects across the sector’s individual industries. Food and beverage manufacturing is a critical component of the U.S. economy, making products that are daily staples of the nation’s diet, such as meat, bread, snacks, cheeses, and beverages. It’s also the largest component of the overall manufacturing sector in terms of 2024 employment share. According to the U.S.