West Virginia manufacturers say they need an additional 2,700 full-time workers over the next 12 months and nearly 7,000 over the next three years, according to a new survey conducted by the Marshall University Center for Business & Economic Research (CBER) for the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC).
The majority of respondents indicate that they expect to hire employees across a broad range of manufacturing occupations in the next year, including 1,035 production/operators, 309 laborers/logistics, 251 quality assurance and testing, 241 maintenance technicians, 224 machinists and 222 welders.
Over the next three years, those numbers will increase to 1,686 production/operators, 470 laborers, 344 quality assurance and testing, 455 maintenance technicians, 317 machinists and 274 welders, according to the statewide survey of 83 companies conducted from August to October.
Results show especially strong demand in the Huntington and Charleston metro regions.
“Manufacturers nationwide report 380,000 job openings, and West Virginia is facing the same challenge, especially with billions of dollars of new investment starting production in the near future,” said Bill Bissett, President of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association. “It is imperative that we attract more people of all ages to our workforce. 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.”
Brandon Dennison, Marshall’s Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development, said the university is working in tandem with industry to meet current workforce needs and ensure the skilled manufacturing workforce of tomorrow.
“This demand for employment from plants and factories across our region is one of the many reasons Marshall University has identified advanced manufacturing as a primary pillar of excellence,” Dennison said. “Through job training, business support, and applied research we are building the manufacturing sector of the future. We welcome the opportunity to partner with industry to meet these challenges and opportunities through in-demand, on-demand curriculum and close collaboration.”
“These numbers validate what we hear from manufacturers on nearly a daily basis,” said MAMC Director Derek Scarbro. “That’s why we’ve expanded – and will continue to expand – to solve the workforce needs on multiple fronts through student associate degree pathways, customized short-term training for industry and apprenticeship programs.”
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 apprenticeship approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. MAMC’s 38 professionals deliver on-site training at company locations across the state and region.
“Manufacturing is an indispensable driver in our state’s economy,” said Kent Sowards, Director of CBER. “It provides stable, high-quality jobs, but also fuels innovation and technological growth. Investing in this sector’s workforce presents increased opportunities for our residents and provides new and relocating firms with a substantial pool of labor to draw from. Through this survey, West Virginia manufacturers have expressed the need for skilled workers both in the short term and over time. Certifications and training through MAMC deliver solutions to help meet that demand.”
Learn more about MAMC’s manufacturing workforce programs at www.mfg.marshall.edu/education-training.
