Evgeniia Kuzmich/Dreamstime
Two Helmeted Workers Tablet Evgeniia Kuzmich Dreamstime
Two Helmeted Workers Tablet Evgeniia Kuzmich Dreamstime
Two Helmeted Workers Tablet Evgeniia Kuzmich Dreamstime
Two Helmeted Workers Tablet Evgeniia Kuzmich Dreamstime
Two Helmeted Workers Tablet Evgeniia Kuzmich Dreamstime

Over Half of US Manufacturing Employees Plan to Leave Their Jobs in 2023: Survey

Feb. 27, 2023
Surveyed factory workers cite PTO and high-tech facilities as top personal priorities for their workplaces.

A new survey of factory workers by Austin, Texas-based business software company Epicor reveals that high turnover is likely to remain a major feature of the manufacturing sector through 2023, and that many frontline workers tend to see free time and advanced facilities as top priorities aside from wages.

In the online survey of more than 600 manufacturing employees, 56% said they plan to leave their current jobs sometime in 2023, sustaining the high turnover seen by manufacturing in the past few years. In another indicator that factory workers aren’t shy about changing companies, only 7.6% of respondents said turnover has lessened at their workplace, while 45% and 47.3%, respectively, said turnover was higher than ever or about the same as last year.

One of the top issues for surveyed employees, including those who did not indicate they planned on leaving their jobs, was available free time. 24% of all respondents said they would seek more PTO in a new employer, and 23% said they would want more flexible hours.

“Over and over again, respondents said they desire flexible work schedules,” the report found. “It’s what contributes to lifting their morale, it’s what they say can create a more engaging work environment, and it’s what they’ll look for in a new employer if (or when) they leave their current job.”

A slim majority of surveyed employees, 52%, reported that morale at their workplace was high. 25% of those respondents indicated that a “flexible work schedule” was the top reason for high morale, and another 22% said the #1 morale-booster was “more paid time off.”

Workers at the 7% of companies with the worst morale, meanwhile, mostly blamed leadership: 24% of those respondents said their companies’ leaders have poor management skills, and a further 15% blamed their companies for failing to address issues in the workplace.

Another priority for survey respondents besides paid time off and flexible hours was the opportunity to work in high-tech or sustainable factories. About 60% of respondents affirming they would take a pay cut to do so, yet just under 50% of respondents said their organization had made sustainability a priority.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

2023 Recruiting Trends in Manufacturing

March 8, 2023
What does the future hold for recruitment in the manufacturing industry? Gem surveyed nearly 100 seasoned talent acquisition professionals in manufacturing to understand their...

Optimize Demand Planning to Improve Scheduling, Supply Chain Management

March 8, 2024
Learn how modern tools can streamline demand planning, saving time and increasing efficiency. Experts will guide you through strategies for accurate forecasting, optimizing inventory...

Food and Beverage 2024 Trends and Outlook for North America

Oct. 29, 2023
Ready to hear what 200 of your peers said are the top challenges and opportunities in 2024? Don’t fall behind. Uncover actionable insights to better prepare for 2024 in this whitepaper...

Moving Sustainability Forward in Manufacturing

Aug. 9, 2023
This paper presents results of a survey of industrial end users. Respondents provided feedback on a range of topics including their company’s sustainability priorities, current...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!