Forklift drivers are in high demand in Sioux Falls, and wages are growing

A quick Google search tells the story: Forklift operators are in high demand in the area.

On Indeed, a job listings website, there are more than 250 positions open in the Sioux Falls area. Other sites have roughly 200 jobs.

“It’s always been in demand, but yeah, it’s a new level that we’ve just never seen,” Spherion License Owner and Vice President of Sales and Marketing Karen Witzel said.

Spherion is a national recruiting and staffing enterprise that has a presence in Sioux Falls. Witzel said that the market is somewhat “outpacing itself.”

“Now, because of market demand, those general skill jobs are paying just as much as forklift. Even if you’re a forklift driver, you can make just as much money and maybe have less work or lighter work conditions,” Witzel said.

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The unemployment rate was 2.3 percent in South Dakota last month, and as the industrial sector grows in Sioux Falls, workers are in high demand.

And that includes forklift drivers, a position often requiring no prior industrial experience and one that can pay well, too. With salary data specific to Sioux Falls, Witzel said wages for forklift drivers have shot up to “at least $20 an hour.” Before the pandemic, Witzel said typical wages for forklift positions were around $16.

Local companies like Wausau Supply Company in Brandon have found it difficult to fill their warehouse positions.

There are roughly 10 warehouse workers for Wausau Supply Company inside the 150,000-square foot building in Brandon, along with four truck drivers.

The business is actively searching for two additional drivers, but is staffed with forklift drivers, said Jim Redlinger, Wausau Supply Company’s western regional distribution manager.

At Wausau Supply Company, a distribution company, those without forklift experience start out at $18.40, Redlinger said, with the possibility of a higher wage with more experience. Since COVID started, Redlinger said the company has increased benefits including more vacation days and company stocks to retain workers. He estimated the new changes bump hourly rates up by about $4.

How to become a forklift driver

In order to drive a forklift, workers must be 18 years or older and go through proper OSHA training. There are seven different classes for forklift certifications. Training covers classroom materials and hands-on activities. Once an individual completes the course, certification is valid for three years and refresher courses are required.

"Operators typically are trained on the job in less than a month, but the amount of time spent in training varies with the type of machine," a U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational outlook handbook said. "(Jobs) such as industrial trucks and forklifts may take only a few days to learn how to operate."

Most employers, like Wausau Supply Company, offer their own training, Redlinger said. That typically includes three factors including classroom instruction, a written test and hands-on training.

“It’s not a hard process. It’s not hard to drive a forklift, especially (with) what we do,” Redlinger said. “They’re pretty easy to run, easy to learn how to run. That’s why we’re able to do most of that training.”

Ian Connor, a forklift driver at Wausau Supply Company, has been in the business for about two years now, and had on-the-job training. He started moving four-foot pallets, and eventually went up to 16- and 20-foot panels, he said.

"Once you kind of get the feel of a forklift, how the rear end swings out ... It's a pretty quick process," Connor said. "... It's just enjoyable. It's fun to see how much you can pick up with just a pull of a lever."

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Forklift industry growing steadily

It's expected that the sector adds 53,100 jobs by 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, at a job outlook change of 7% — which is considered "as fast as average."

“Some warehouses are using automated machinery to improve their operations and increase efficiency. However, industrial truck and tractor operators will be needed in warehouses as more consumers choose to purchase products online,” the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said.

In 2021, median pay for material moving machine operators clocked in at $38,380 per year.

There's also a safety risk when it comes to forklift driving in the workplace. According to the National Safety Council, there were 78 work-related deaths among forklift drivers in 2020. There were 7,290 nonfatal injuries.

Riekes Equipment is a full-service material handling equipment dealership in Sioux Falls that provides new, used and rental forklift equipment. Since COVID-19 hindered supply chain issues, Riekes has seen a change in business.

"Because of the delays in the availability of industrial equipment, we are finding some customers keeping their older equipment longer and increasing their spend on repairs," Riekes Equipment Director of Marketing Lisa Brink said. "... One element that has been changing is the type of equipment companies purchase, finding a more specialized forklift ... Maybe something for narrow aisles or that handles long loads, can go a long way in increasing productivity."

But, the demand for forklift rentals has remained somewhat unchanged, according to the company. It varies year-to-year based on growth of businesses, Brink said.

"The demand for forklifts remains the same as what we have seen in previous years. Forklifts play a big role in moving and storing products, so they are critical to most operations regardless of the industry," Brink said.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota forklift drivers in high demand, making more money