Benefits Strategy for Massachusetts Manufacturing Employers

Built for shift work, production reliability, automation, and competing with life sciences for the same talent pool.

Built for Production and Shift Environments

Shift work & 24/7 operations

Production reliability

Skilled technician roles

Automation & upskilling

Safety & machine guarding

Retention of experienced workers

Competition with life sciences & logistics

Defense / medical device supply chains

Manufacturing Workforce Trends

More than 70% of surveyed Massachusetts manufacturers reported struggling to recruit and retain workers, over half were planning major capital investments, and nearly 60% anticipated launching new products or services in the coming year.

Source: MassMEP 2025 Voice of the Manufacturer report.

Health Benefits in Manufacturing

In 2025, 95% of manufacturing employees were eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance and 80% chose to participate. Yet 70% of manufacturers cited rising healthcare and insurance costs as their primary business concern — rising to 75% among small manufacturers (under 50 employees) and 78% among medium manufacturers (50–499 employees).

Source: National Association of Manufacturers, 2026 Health Policy Paper.

Benefits Priorities

Shift-friendly access to care

Telehealth

Onsite/near-site care where appropriate

Prescription affordability

Chronic condition management

Musculoskeletal care

Dental / vision

Disability

EAP

Financial wellness

Manufacturing-Specific Resource Downloads

01

Manufacturing Benefits Benchmark Checklist

02

Shift Worker Benefits Communication Guide

03

Health Insurance Renewal Checklist for Manufacturers

04

Safety + Benefits Integration Guide

05

Recruitment & Retention Total Rewards Template

See the Full Resource Library