As state-level legalization of cannabis spreads across the United States, employers in the industry have rapidly expanded hiring.
According to Glassdoor’s database of job openings, as of December 2018, 1,512 cannabis-related job openings were found in the United States on Glassdoor. By comparison, in December 2017, there were only 857 similar job listings, representing a 76% year-over-year increase. While 53% of these job openings are for professional and technical workers, cannabis jobs available fit broadly into three categories: retail, technical, and labor and physical. According to Glassdoor’s December 2018 Local Pay Report, the median salary for cannabis industry job openings is about 10.7% higher than the U.S. median salary.
“Investment in hiring is one of the strongest indicators for business confidence as it requires a substantial long-term investment of time, effort and money,” said Daniel Zhao, economist and data scientist at Glassdoor.
Cannabis industry jobs are mainly thriving in metro areas such as San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and Denver, CO. These cannabis-friendly cities are well known for their liberal culture and highly skilled workforce. While these locations dominate the cannabis industry currently, smaller markets are continuing to sprout throughout the United States.
CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (OTCQB: CLSH) (CSE: CLSH) has begun tapping into these maturing U.S. markets, most recently in Massachusetts. CLS expanded from Las Vegas, Nevada to Massachusetts with the acquisition of In Good Health, Inc. Located just outside of Boston, In Good Health operates one of just 48 licensed dispensaries in Massachusetts. The state is among few that have legalized cannabis for recreational use and could possibly be the site of the next industry boom.
A rapidly expanding job sector in combination with growing smaller markets are key components to the overall cannabis industry. Emerging marketplaces like Massachusetts are positioned for significant growth opportunities. The economic benefits as well as therapeutic effects of cannabis may lead the way for future legislation.
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