Washington, D.C. — The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) Chief Economist, Dr. Perc Pineda, has released a new economic analysis examining plastics employment outlook amid steady consumer demand, modest manufacturing growth, and ongoing economic headwinds. The analysis explores how downstream demand trends, tariffs, interest rates, and production data are shaping near-term workforce stability across the plastics and rubber products sector.
Dr. Pineda writes, “Because the manufacturing sector is the primary customer of the plastics industry, changes in manufacturing activity provide insight into plastics demand—and, by extension, plastics manufacturing employment. There is little doubt that U.S. manufacturing has been affected by higher tariffs, particularly for firms that depend on inputs and equipment not readily available domestically. The Industrial Production Index for manufacturing stood at 98.2 in December 2025, up 2.4 index points from January 2025, but still 1.8% below its 2017 level.
In perspective, manufacturing has not fully returned to its 2017 benchmark. Against a backdrop of elevated interest rates—despite a lower Federal funds rate following three 25-basis-point cuts last year—and higher tariffs, plastics production has remained in relatively low gear, even as broader manufacturing activity continues to expand modestly,” concluded Dr. Pineda.
Click here to read the full analysis on the PLASTICS blog.
About the Plastics Industry Association
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) supports the entire plastics supply chain, including Equipment Suppliers, Material Suppliers, Processors, and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $551 billion U.S. industry. PLASTICS advances the priorities of our members who are dedicated to investing in technologies that improve capabilities and advances in recycling and sustainability and providing essential products that allow for the protection and safety of our lives. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members, and the eighth largest U.S. manufacturing industry, more globally competitive while supporting circularity through educational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, convening opportunities and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE: The Plastics Show.
