The jewelry industry in America is experiencing a significant labor shortage, especially among skilled bench jewelers. In 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported over 5,000 unfilled bench jeweler positions, driven by a wave of retirements and the closure of many traditional training programs. With fewer young professionals entering the trade, the talent pipeline continues to shrink. Despite this, overall employment in the occupation is projected to decline by 4% over the decade. As a result, retailers and manufacturers are struggling to fill vacancies—often facing delays of six months to a year to hire qualified jewelers—ultimately impacting production timelines and business growth across the industry.