Plastics Products Manufacturing Workers

Increased competition in foreign markets will reduce opportunities for plastics products manufacturing workers. As a result, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, tenders, and operators in plastics products manufacturing will grow more slowly than the average for all careers through 2033. The DOL reports that "changes in the cost of operations in the United States and abroad may encourage some manufacturers to bring back production that was previously sent offshore. However, new facilities in the United States will likely incorporate more automation technologies, requiring less labor overall."

Opportunities for computer-controlled machine tool programmers in plastic product manufacturing will be stronger, increasing much faster than the average for all careers through 2033. The DOL reports that "many firms are continuing to expand the use of technologies, such as computer numerically controlled (CNC) tools and robots, to improve quality and lower production costs. The use of CNC equipment requires CNC tool programmers instead of machine setters, operators, and tenders. Therefore, demand for most manual tool operators and tenders is likely to be reduced, while demand for CNC tool programmers is expected to be strong."