Animal food manufacturing

NAICS Code: 311100

Employment 2024
75,400
Projected 2034
80,600
Growth Rate
+6.9%
Net Job Change
+5,200
The verdict

BLS projects Animal food manufacturing to grow +6.9% through 2034 - 4.5 points faster than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 84% of them. It is one of the faster-growing industries in the dataset.

+6.9%
Growth 2024–34
84th
growth percentile
75,400
Workers (2024, ×1k)
+5,200
Net jobs (×1k)

Where Animal food manufacturing sits among all industries

Projected 2024–2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.

projected growth distribution - Animal food manufacturing marked 21 industries at -15–-10% 21 -15 23 industries at -10–-5% 23 -10 41 industries at -5–0% 41 -5 128 industries at 0–5% 128 0 51 industries at 5–10% 51 5 14 industries at 10–15% 14 10 4 industries at 15–20% 4 15 3 industries at 20–25% 3 20 6 industries at 25–30% 6 25 projected growth (%) →
Top 16% by projected growth Higher projected growth than 84% of all 291 industries.

Animal food manufacturing has projected growth of 6.9%. Distribution: 21 industries at -15--10%; 23 industries at -10--5%; 41 industries at -5-0%; 128 industries at 0-5%; 51 industries at 5-10%; 14 industries at 10-15%; 4 industries at 15-20%; 3 industries at 20-25%; 6 industries at 25-30%.

Industry Insight

The Animal food manufacturing industry is classified under NAICS code 311100 and employed approximately 75,400 workers in 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program. By 2034, BLS projects employment will reach 80,600 - a net change of +5,200 jobs over the decade. That works out to a +6.9% projected growth rate, a measured but positive trajectory.

NAICS 311100 sits within a broader sector ecosystem whose health depends on demographic trends, technology adoption curves, and policy decisions on immigration, tax incentives, and labor regulation. The occupation mix inside Animal food manufacturing determines how AI displacement risk filters down to individual workers, industries dominated by clerical and routine analytical roles face the steepest exposure, while those anchored in physical skill, patient care, or creative judgment retain stronger resilience. The growth outlook makes this industry an attractive target for career changers, training investments, and regional economic development.

Use this industry profile alongside our occupation rankings and employer AI risk grades to build a full picture. The BLS publishes detailed wage and employment figures for each sector in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections programs. The BLS Employment Projections methodology blends input-output modeling, productivity forecasts, and occupational staffing patterns, so estimates are directional rather than precise, and industry-level outcomes depend heavily on macroeconomic conditions that evolve between projection cycles.

Peer Industries by Employment

How Animal food manufacturing (NAICS 311100) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.

Peer industries by 2024 employment, with 2034 projections and growth rates
Industry 2024 Growth
Theater companies and dinner theaters 76,300 +3.4%
Animal food manufacturing 75,400 +6.9%
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; local 74,800 +4.2%
Fossil fuel electric power generation 74,500 -30.9%
Turned product and screw, nut, and bolt manufacturing 74,200 -19.5%
Farm product raw material merchant wholesalers 73,800 +0.7%

Peers are selected by similarity in 2024 employment. Figures in thousands. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people work in Animal food manufacturing?

As of 2024, the Animal food manufacturing industry employs approximately 75,400 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.

Is Animal food manufacturing growing or declining?

The Animal food manufacturing industry is projected to grow by 6.9% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of +5,200 jobs over the decade.

What jobs are in the Animal food manufacturing industry?

The Animal food manufacturing industry (NAICS 311100) employs workers across a range of occupations. Browse the full occupations directory to see AI exposure scores, wage data, and growth projections for specific roles common in this industry.

How will AI affect the Animal food manufacturing industry?

AI impact on the Animal food manufacturing industry depends on the specific occupation mix. Industries with more routine data processing and clerical roles tend to have higher AI displacement risk, while those requiring physical labor, complex judgment, or creative work face lower risk. View occupation-level AI exposure scores for detailed analysis.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Employment figures in thousands. Data reflects projected changes over the 2024–2034 decade