manufacturing and logistics.

An essential part of any manufacturing operation, today's assemblers are finding their roles to be increasingly digitized. Advancements in robotics means employers will be looking to hire assemblers with more technical skill sets who can work in tandem with robotic assistance.

While a full quarter of all U.S assemblers are employed in the transportation and equipment manufacturing sector, their full-time services will be needed in other areas like machinery and computer and electronic product manufacturing. As innovation pushes forward, employers will need to hire assemblers with a demonstrated commitment to lifelong learning, as the role will require workers to continuously reinvent themselves as the years go on.

Employers are always on the hunt for certified drivers to operate forklifts safely and steadily throughout their worksites, and 2021 is shaping up to be no different. Last year alone, there were over 97,000 job ads posted for forklift operators, and growth is projected to increase at a rate of almost seven percent over the next 10 years.

Competition for forklift operators will likely be most fierce in states like California, Texas, Illinois and Georgia, which continue to house the lion's share of opportunities for workers in this area of specialization. For employers on the hunt for talent in competitive markets, incorporating a strong safety message into their employer branding can help them get a leg up for talent. Workplace safety has risen to the forefront of job seekers' minds in the wake of COVID-19 and could be a key differentiator in 2021.

The lifeblood of many manufacturing sites, materials handlers are critical connectors, keeping shelves stocked and ensuring all goods get to where they need to go. As such, employers should expect to spare no expense when it comes to competing for talent in this in-demand section.

While overall opportunities for materials handlers are expected to grow at a comfortable rate, certain sectors are positioned to enjoy greater growth than others. Of note are jobs for refuse and recyclable material collectors and stock and material movers, which are projected to grow at an above-average pace, reflecting the country's shifting priorities toward e-commerce and environmental sustainability.

Also benefiting from the explosive growth of e-commerce, picker/packers will be in high demand in the year head. The past 12 months saw 55,599 job postings for this role, with highest demand clustering around the Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states of Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio.

As the role of picker/packer continues to evolve, employers will need to focus their hiring efforts on candidates with increasingly technical skill sets. Robotics and augmented reality tools are already being introduced into picker/packers' workflows, and the profession, like many others in manufacturing, will only continue to evolve.

Perhaps no other occupation highlights e-commerce's towering influence over manufacturing job demand better than warehouse workers. Of the 700,000-plus job postings recorded last year for these Jacks- and Jills-of-all-trades, 259,000 of them were in the retail trade, with an additional 118,000 tied to manufacturing and warehouse worksites.

However, name recognition is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to attracting skilled warehouse talent. Employers looking to stand out from an increasingly crowded pack should look at incentives beyond just their hourly rates — like benefits designed to protect physical and mental health — to win the talent they need.