Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) Chief Economist, Dr. Perc Pineda, has released a new economic analysis of U.S. labor market trends in plastics manufacturing, offering both context and clarity on recent changes and long-term opportunities.
Dr. Pineda writes, “Amid the diverse occupations in the plastics industry, five key roles are expected to be in high demand over the next decade. Engineers are projected to grow by 13.6% between 2023 and 2033, reaching 25,100 jobs. Machinist positions are also expected to rise, increasing by 9.4% to 3,500 jobs. While growth in production occupations is expected to slow to 3.6%, they will remain the industry’s largest occupational group, with 368,000 jobs by 2033. Though smaller in size, industrial machinery installation, repair, and maintenance workers—as well as industrial machinery mechanics—are projected to see significant growth, at 26.6% and 22.0% respectively, reaching 21,900 and 22,200 jobs.”
Click here to read the full analysis on the PLASTICS blog.
