The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment for industrial engineering technicians who work in plastics product manufacturing will grow slower than the average through 2029. Overall growth in manufacturing is expected to be slow. The coronavirus pandemic in 2020 has also impacted the plastics industry as well as many other industries in the U.S. and around the world. Most openings will result from the need to replace technicians who retire or leave the field for other reasons.
Despite this prediction, there will continue to be opportunities for plastics technicians because the field is so large and plastics are used in so many products. More industries are incorporating plastics into their product lines, which will create opportunities for qualified plastics technicians. As more plastics products are substituted for glass, paper, and metal products and parts, plastics technicians will be needed to assist engineers will with design and production processes. There will also be growth in the plastics industry due to the need for environmentally friendly products and processes, as well as easily recyclable products for certain industries.
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