OPUS International
Industry Update - February 2026

​Labor market
Food manufacturing employment closed out 2025 at approximately 1.78 million, entering January 2026 on essentially flat footing year over year. Hiring activity through the end of the year was measured, with companies maintaining staffing levels rather than expanding aggressively.  Wage pressure remains present, with average hourly earnings in the high-$28 range and average weekly hours near 39–40 hours, indicating that while headcount growth is limited, existing teams continue to operate at high utilization.
Job openings
Broader manufacturing job openings softened slightly at the end of 2025 before stabilizing entering January, reflecting a more cautious hiring environment. Within food manufacturing, hiring remains focused on targeted, high-value roles rather than broad workforce expansion.
Companies continue to prioritize hires that directly impact product development, plant performance, and quality execution, while holding back on non-essential additions.
Consumer behavior
Consumer demand entering 2026 remains resilient but increasingly selective. Food-at-home inflation moderated into the low single digits, while food-away-from-home pricing continued to run higher, reinforcing a gradual shift back toward at-home consumption for value-conscious consumers.
At the same time, consumers are not pulling back uniformly—they are trading more deliberately, favoring products that deliver either clear value or perceived functional benefits such as higher protein, better ingredients, or cleaner labels.
What shoppers seem to be favoring
Early 2026 demand signals point toward a continued convergence of value and functionality. Simpler ingredient decks, protein-forward formulations, and portion-aware products are gaining traction, while traditional discretionary snack categories show more variability.
This is less a pullback in spending and more a reallocation toward products that justify their price point.
Large-company news this month
Large food manufacturers entered the year with a continued focus on discipline and portfolio alignment. Public commentary and early-year positioning emphasize margin management, targeted innovation, and alignment with evolving consumer preferences.
There is also increasing attention on longer-term demand shifts, including the potential impact of GLP-1 medications on consumption patterns, which is beginning to influence product development strategies across major players.
Bottom line
January 2026 reflects a sector that is steady, controlled, and highly selective. Employment is stable, hiring is deliberate, and consumer demand remains intact but more intentional.
From a talent perspective, demand continues to center on roles that directly drive product relevance, operational efficiency, and revenue performance—particularly across R&D, FSQA, operations leadership, and commercial functions tied to growth categories.