Perc Pineda, PhD
Chief Economist, PLASTICS
Tayce Shamamian
Research Assistant
June 18, 2025
The latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that unemployment in plastics and rubber products manufacturing rose to 5.7% in May, with employment declining by 1,700 jobs. This marks the third consecutive monthly increase in unemployment. While monthly data can be volatile, historical trends over the past decade show that the sector has experienced unemployment rates above 5.0% even during periods of rising production and capacity utilization. Still, a 5.7% unemployment rate is concerning – especially when compared to the overall unemployment rate of 4.2% and the manufacturing rate of 3.6%. Generally, unemployment in plastics and rubber products manufacturing has been more volatile than in total manufacturing and the broader economy. In addition to monitoring monthly labor market changes, plastics professionals should keep an eye on forward-looking indicators.
Understanding the plastics industry’s labor market benefits both businesses and prospective employees. The Plastics Industry Association has released a new edition of Career Opportunities in Plastics, an infographic that presents a forward-looking view of the industry’s labor landscape—including wages, workforce demographics, and employment growth trends across key occupations.
Occupational Growth
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.
The variation in projected growth rates among in-demand occupations reflects the increasing use of technology in the plastics industry, which also supports competitive wages. As a highly automated sector, the industry continues to rely on technical expertise. Engineers remain among the highest-paid professionals in plastics, with those in the top percentile earning 35.1% above the national average. Similarly, top-percentile production workers earn 41.5% more than the national average.
Generational Shifts
It is well known that the U.S. manufacturing workforce is aging. Analyzing workforce demographics by age provides valuable insight into the labor supply in the plastics industry. In plastics product manufacturing, the share of workers aged 16–24 rose from 8.5% in 2023 to 10.3% in 2024—a 1.8 percentage point increase. At the same time, the share of workers aged 55 and older declined slightly, from 28.9% to 28.0%. Assuming this older cohort retires at the full retirement age of 67, an estimated 84,000 new job openings are expected to emerge in plastics product manufacturing over the next 2 to 12 years.
The updated Career Opportunities in the U.S. Plastics Industry infographic highlights an industry rich with opportunities for skilled workers and steady employment. To attract and retain talent, the industry will need to create pathways for younger workers entering the industry—offering clear opportunities for growth, advancement, and competitive pay.
In plastics manufacturing, labor costs accounted for an estimated 13.0% of shipments in 2023 (PLASTICS Size and Impact Report, 2024). The next edition of the Size and Impact Report will be released on September 16, 2025. Visit the PLASTICS website to learn more about the plastics industry workforce and access the latest Career Opportunities in the U.S. Plastics Industry fact sheet.
