OPERATIONS Next generation leadership Dairy industry looks for long-term solutions to workforce challenges. by Allison Gibeson | dairyprocessing@sosland.com ith 3.3 million jobs and $42 billion in direct wages, the dairy industry requires a robust workforce to maintain operations. Yet current labor challenges have resulted in many dairy processors experiencing a decline of 10% or more in their workforce with about two job openings for every one person seeking employment, according to International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) president and chief executive officer Michael Dykes. W Overall, the IDFA estimates there are a million open positions in the dairy industry today. Industry leaders have named immigration reform and automation as some of the possible ways of alleviating the situation, but it's also clear that valuing industry workers is essential for future success. " We used to always say customers are most important, but today people are the most important, " Dykes said. " If we don't 36 JAN-FEB 2023 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM ©rh2010-stock.adobe.comhttp://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM