NEW YORK, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. factories employ about 13 million people. Plant owners are struggling to fill positions even as other sectors of the economy, such as transportation and warehousing, have recovered from pandemic-era labor shortages, reported The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Friday.

"For most of this year, the gap each month between manufacturing job openings and hirings has hovered at about 100,000 positions," noted the report. More than 60 percent of employers in a recent survey by the National Association of Manufacturers said attracting and retaining talent is a top concern.

The trade group forecasts the sector will need to fill 3.8 million roles over the next decade because of retirees leaving the industry and growing manufacturing demand.

"Labor demand across manufacturing is uneven," said the report, adding that some factory employers are cutting jobs as they respond to shifts in the economy and a slowdown in spending on farm equipment and big-ticket items like cars and major appliances, but the overall trend is toward a shortage of workers. Enditem

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