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.