How to Hire Factory Workers When John Deere Is Hiring 400
· 5 min read
On October 30, 2026, John Deere said it expects to hire more than 400 people across its factories "in coming months" and to call back more than 275 employees to its Waterloo, Iowa, operations. If you run a small plant, machine shop, or fabrication business anywhere near those sites, this is the week to rethink how to hire factory workers, because a large employer just started recruiting from the same pool of people you rely on.
This guide covers what the announcement says, why it matters to a 20 or 200 person shop, and a practical plan to keep filling shifts while a major employer is hiring nearby.
What John Deere announced, and where
According to the John Deere news release, the hiring spans these locations:
- Harvester Works, Seeding, and Cylinder in Moline, Illinois
- North American Parts Distribution Center in Milan, Illinois
- Davenport Works and Dubuque Works in Iowa
- Ottumwa Works in Ottumwa, Iowa
- Coffeyville Works in Coffeyville, Kansas
Deere also said all employees previously laid off in Waterloo, the Quad Cities, Ottumwa, and Dubuque have been asked to return, which brings callbacks since 2024 to about 1,000. About 125 employees remain on layoff in the Des Moines area.
Why a big hiring push affects small manufacturers
Factory hiring was already picking up before this news. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that manufacturing employment rose by 9,000 in September and is up 72,000 since a recent low in December 2025 (BLS Employment Situation, September 2026).
Small employers were also already short on applicants. In the NFIB September jobs report, 45% of owners (87% of those hiring or trying to hire) said they had few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill. Twenty seven percent had openings for skilled workers and 16% had openings for unskilled labor (NFIB).
Put those together and the risk is easy to see. A large employer opens hundreds of roles, recalls people it laid off, and your applicant flow gets thinner right when you need it most.
There is also a quieter risk. If you hired people during the last few years who came from a large manufacturer's layoff list, some of them may now be getting recall offers. Think of a hypothetical 40 person metal shop in the Quad Cities that brought on three former plant employees in 2025. The owner should be talking with each of them this week, not finding out on a Friday that they start somewhere else on Monday.
How to hire factory workers: a 5 step plan for this month
1. Talk to your current team first. Retention is cheaper than replacement. Ask every recent hire what would keep them: steadier shifts, a raise schedule, a lead role, or training on a new machine.
2. Sell what a small shop can offer. You probably cannot outbid a large employer on every role, but you can often offer things a huge plant cannot: a predictable schedule, a shorter commute, cross training, and an owner who knows everyone's name. Put those in the first two lines of the job post.
3. Move faster than the big employer's process. Large employers often run longer hiring cycles. If you can screen, interview, and make an offer within a few days, you win candidates who need a paycheck now.
4. Rehire and refer. Former employees who left on good terms, plus referrals from your best operators, are usually your quickest qualified source.
5. Verify before day one. Speed should not mean skipping checks. Run your background check and confirm the candidate is the person you interviewed, especially when you hire remotely screened applicants.
Comparing hiring levers for small manufacturers
| Lever | Speed to fill | Cost | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention talks with recent hires | Immediate | Low | Keeping trained staff | Waiting until someone gives notice |
| Employee referrals | Fast | Low to moderate (bonus) | Operators, assemblers | Only works if your team is happy |
| Rehiring former employees | Fast | Low | Experienced roles | Check why they left |
| Local trade school partnerships | Slow | Low | Welders, machinists | Takes a semester or more |
| Job board posting | Moderate | Varies | General labor, entry roles | Higher applicant volume to screen |
| Schedule flexibility (4x10s, fixed shifts) | Moderate | Low | Competing on lifestyle | Must be sustainable for production |
What to watch next
Two federal data releases land this week. The JOLTS report for September is scheduled for November 3, and the October Employment Situation report is scheduled for November 6 at 8:30 a.m. ET (BLS release schedule). Watch the manufacturing line. If it keeps climbing, competition for hourly plant workers will not ease soon.
For a broader checklist, see our guide on how to hire factory workers.
Why ReadyATS
When a big employer starts hiring nearby, the shop that moves first usually wins the candidate. ReadyATS helps a small team move quickly without skipping the steps that protect you:
- Live interviews, fast. Schedule interviews with Google Meet or Zoom links so a candidate can talk with you the same day they apply.
- Checkr background checks. Order background checks through the ReadyATS Checkr integration instead of juggling a separate portal.
- Checkr Identity Verification. Through that same integration, you can order Checkr IDV, which matches a live selfie to a government ID, so you know the person who shows up on day one is the person you interviewed.
The plants down the road have recruiting departments. You have speed. Use it.
FAQ
How to hire factory workers when a large employer is hiring nearby?
Start by keeping the people you have, then compete on speed and on what a small shop offers that a large plant may not, such as fixed schedules, cross training, and a short commute. Use referrals and former employees, and make offers within days.
What did John Deere announce on October 30, 2026?
Deere said it anticipates hiring over 400 people across its factories in coming months and calling back over 275 employees to its Waterloo, Iowa, operations, bringing callbacks since 2024 to about 1,000.
Is manufacturing hiring growing in 2026?
BLS data shows manufacturing employment rose by 9,000 in September 2026 and is up 72,000 since a recent low in December 2025.
How can a small manufacturer verify a new hire's identity?
Many employers use identity verification that compares a live selfie with a government ID. ReadyATS users can order Checkr Identity Verification through the ReadyATS Checkr integration, alongside Checkr background checks.