Emerging trends in the U.S. material handling industry

The material handling industry has proven itself to be a pivotal force in the relationship between producers, retailers and consumers.

This industry is involved in moving materials from point A to point B within the confined space of a building - something that can often be done by hand, trolleys, forklifts or other wheeled devices.

The conveniences of technology have made themselves known in this industry. The introduction of driverless vehicles, new and improved containers and streamlined conveyor belt systems have had an overwhelmingly positive effect on the material handling industry.

This has caused massive growth within the industry, as is evidenced in an article published in MHI Solutions.

However, the most important innovation is smart technology. It allows material handlers to easily keep track of their stock; retrieve missing, lost or stolen items; and streamline transportation options.

By discussing the number of companies and jobs in the industry, job changes over the years, average sales and sales change within the industry, the state of material handling as a business and as a whole can be discussed.

Related: Choosing the right material handling equipment for your business

Growth trends in the material handling industry

Regionally, there is a large amount of difference and division within the material handling industry. In the Midwest, there are 2,238 companies, 1,897 in the South, 852 in the West and 940 in the East. Job growth has also been reported by region.

Of those material handling companies reporting job growth to IndustryNet, more than half are located in the Midwest, 34 percent are located in the South; 20 percent are located in the Northeast, and 18 percent in the West.

Over the past year, 5 percent of material handling companies in the U.S. reported employment increases. Two percent reported a downturn in employment increases. By contrast, this year reflects a statistic of four percent in both employment increases and decreases, which doesn't reflect either gain or loss in the number of employees utilized by the material handling industry.

Employment within individual job categories is also important to emphasize. The packaging category has grown the most, by 3.5 percent. Other categories have grown in smaller ways, from containers to hoists and pallets.

Shelving/racks has been the only category that reflects a loss, of a little under half a percent in the negative category. Comparing sales from year to year is another way to measure growth.

By combining all of these, with primary emphasis given to employment growth, the material handling industry can be measured accurately.

For more information

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