In Georgia and in at least 19 other states, food industry workers—food preparers in particular—are in high demand right now.
That's according to a new Yahoo Finance report based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and projections from Projections Managing Partnerships.
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According to Yahoo, which produced a map of the jobs with the most openings in 2019, food preparers earn an average of $10.93 per hour, or $22,730 annually. And the industry is expected to grow by 8 percent by 2026.
In the South, food preparers, cashiers and retail workers are needed most.
Other job titles with the most job openings across the country: personal care aides (those helping folks with disabilities or chronic illnesses, for example) and truck drivers.
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According to Rajeev Dhawan of the Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business, Georgia is also seeing job growth in high-paying corporate manufacturing and information technology sectors, and the demand-driven sectors of construction, hospitality and retail trade.
"Transportation, which includes warehousing and distribution, posted strong gains throughout the year," GSU reported Wednesday, citing Dhawan's expertise. "Healthcare, which grew by 16,100 new jobs in calendar year 2018, is expected to continue to do well, with ongoing announcements and construction of medical centers across Georgia, such as expansions of Piedmont Athens Regional and Southeast Georgia Health System."
View Yahoo's map of the jobs with the highest average annual openings by state.
