Job Market for Forklift Operators in the United States
Overview:
- There are approximately 796,600 forklift operators currently employed in the U.S.
- The job market for forklift operators is projected to grow by 3.8% from 2022 to 2032.
- Over the next decade, the U.S. is expected to require an additional 36,300 forklift operators, factoring in 29,900 new positions and the retirement of 6,400 existing operators.
Employability Rating:
- CareerExplorer rates forklift operators with a B- employability rating, indicating favorable job prospects in the near future.
Supply of Forklift Operators by State
The distribution of forklift operators varies across states, with the following states having the highest number of employed forklift operators:
| State | Employed Forklift Operators |
|---|---|
| Texas | 62,820 |
| California | 59,260 |
| Georgia | 33,790 |
| Pennsylvania | 31,580 |
| Ohio | 26,640 |
| Illinois | 25,010 |
| North Carolina | 23,250 |
| Florida | 21,160 |
| Tennessee | 17,980 |
| New Jersey | 17,640 |
| Michigan | 17,110 |
| New York | 16,130 |
| Indiana | 16,000 |
| Kentucky | 13,880 |
| Virginia | 13,140 |
| Wisconsin | 12,920 |
| Washington | 11,570 |
| Missouri | 11,070 |
| Colorado | 10,210 |
| Arizona | 9,650 |
| Oregon | 9,510 |
| Alabama | 9,130 |
| Minnesota | 8,630 |
| South Carolina | 7,950 |
| Arkansas | 7,140 |
| Mississippi | 7,060 |
| Maryland | 6,940 |
| Louisiana | 6,910 |
| Iowa | 6,580 |
| Oklahoma | 6,230 |
| Massachusetts | 5,680 |
| Kansas | 5,320 |
| Utah | 4,510 |
| Nebraska | 3,250 |
| Puerto Rico | 2,710 |
| Nevada | 2,680 |
| Maine | 2,660 |
| Connecticut | 2,270 |
| Idaho | 2,250 |
| West Virginia | 2,180 |
| Delaware | 1,880 |
| New Hampshire | 1,580 |
| South Dakota | 1,320 |
| Rhode Island | 1,210 |
| North Dakota | 1,120 |
| New Mexico | 1,100 |
| Wyoming | 1,040 |
| Montana | 1,010 |
| Vermont | 860 |
| Hawaii | 770 |
| Alaska | 600 |
| Guam | 180 |
| District of Columbia | 90 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | 50 |
Conclusion
The forklift operator job market in the United States presents good employment opportunities, with steady growth expected in the coming years. Texas, California, and Georgia lead in the number of forklift operators employed, making these states key areas for job seekers in this field. With a B- employability rating, individuals interested in this career can look forward to a promising future.
Information provided by CareerOnlines, LLC and other sources.
Sections of this page includes information from the O*NET 29.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
CareerOnlines, LLC has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.