Job Market 2024: What Were the Trends in the 3D Printing Sector?
Every year, 3Dnatives conducts a study of the 3D printing job market, highlighting the most relevant trends and developments for the future of the sector. This analysis is based on job offers published on our job board in different languages: French, English, Spanish, Italian and German. In 2024, a total of 791 job offers were published, 77% of which were permanent contracts. This reflects continuity in long-term recruitment, indicating that companies are looking to strengthen their teams with a forward-looking vision. In terms of the most sought-after professional profiles, the trend has not changed. Companies continue to need technicians, operators and engineers who know the ins and outs of the sector, accounting for 55% of the positions on offer.
It is important to note as well that, compared to 2023, the number of job offers published in 2024 is slightly higher (791 vs. 668). This increase can be attributed to the fact that, after the numerous redundancies announced by major market players in 2023, these now appear to be stabilizing once again. As a result, the sector has continued to show dynamism, driven in particular by companies and end-users who continue to invest in 3D printing for their business or for integration into dedicated technology centers.
What 3D Printing Jobs Are Most in Demand?
In 2024, the most advertised job types are mainly production and development positions, followed by design and maintenance positions. Clearly, these jobs tend to be related to handling 3D printers, demonstrating the need for advanced profiles with technical knowledge of the technology. Compared to the previous year, production and development positions increased considerably (29% and 26% respectively, compared to 26% and 22% in 2023), underlining the growing demand for this type of profile. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that job offers for sales positions have dropped from 13% in 2023 to 5% in 2024, which could be a direct consequence of the stagnation observed in the sector.
The Sectors Recruiting the Most
In line with the results obtained every year, the players in the 3D printing market are those who continue to hire the most. These are mainly industrial companies and 3D equipment manufacturers. However, compared to the previous year, in 2024 there was a significant drop in printing services and machine distributors. In 2023, these two areas accounted for 19% of all published offers, whereas in 2024 they fall to just 12%. By contrast, some of the fastest-growing industries are aerospace and medical.
Overall, we can conclude that, despite the downturn observed in 2023, the 3D printing job market in 2024 is gradually recovering. It also highlights certain trends that have been observed for months, such as the growth of more advanced sectors like aerospace and biomedical, as well as greater specialization of professional profiles.
We’ll have to wait and see whether, in 2025, companies will choose to tighten their hiring criteria even further, or whether they’ll decide to broaden their opportunities and attract more 3D printing experts. In the meantime, if you’re looking for a job or if your company is looking for talent specialized in additive manufacturing, don’t hesitate to consult our job board to view the latest vacancies or post your own.
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