Are your would-be candidates going to pot, literally? As the cannabis industry takes off, many job seekers have a strong interest in being a part of it.
Job site Indeed reports that in the United States, searches for jobs with the terms cannabis / marijuana were up 401 percent in 2017.
Job Openings
Not everyone working in the cannabis industry tends to plants. Among current job openings are many for which companies in other industries are recruiting, including:
- CFO / Controller, Denver, Colorado
- Data Researcher, remote, multiple locations
- Office Manager / Sales Support, Portland, Oregon
- Content Writer, Denver, Colorado
- Social Media Manager, Los Angeles, California
- Administrative Team Assistant, New York, NY
- Director of Accounting, Denver, Colorado
- Marketing Director, Scotts Valley, California
- Brand Ambassador, San Jose, California
- Inventory & Packaging Manager, Centreville, Maryland
Retail and sales opportunities abound as well. Current job openings include:
- Dispensary Manager, Kenneth City, Florida
- Retail Associate, San Jose, California
- Sales Executive, Manchester, New Hampshire
- Telephone Sales Representative, Torrance, California
- Sales Associate, Syracuse, New York
Market Size
The cannabis industry is poised for growth, and will require more employees.
As of January 1, medical marijuana and recreational marijuana are both legal in California, the state with the largest population. Wyatt Investment Research points out that 68.5 million Americans now live in states where cannabis is 100 percent legal for medical and recreational use. And other states are considering legalization.
Wyatt estimates that the U.S. legal cannabis market will reach $15.6 billion in sales in 2018.
Among the trends driving recreational cannabis sales is a preference for marijuana over alcohol. The website Medical Marijuana, Inc. (MJNA) reports on a study that shows beer sales have declined in states where recreational marijuana is legal. MJNA also cites a survey that finds consumers nationwide are now spending more annually on marijuana products than they do on alcohol.
Meanwhile, medical marijuana users still outspend recreational users nearly three to one, according to MJNA.
Going for the Green
Cannabis is a dynamic industry, and job seekers are drawn to the excitement and opportunities it offers. The field has been compared to the technology industry in the ‘90s, from the standpoint of potential. Similarly, the green rush has been compared to the California Gold Rush.
Not every new business will make it, however. NBC Nightly News reports a 70 percent fail rate among cannabis businesses. It also cites an “antagonistic federal government.”
Nevertheless, across America, job seekers are high on the employment opportunities the industry offers.
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Paula Santonocito, Contributing Editor for Recruiting Daily Advisor, is a business journalist specializing in employment issues. She is the author of more than 1,000 articles on a wide range of human resource and career topics, with an emphasis on recruiting and hiring. Her articles have been featured in many global and domestic publications and information outlets, referenced in academic and legal publications as well as books, and translated into several languages. |