Rubber Goods Production Workers

Overall employment in the rubber industry has been declining. Through 2029, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that opportunities for crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders and for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders will shrink by 6 and 5 percent, respectively. Employment is expected to decline by 2 percent for hand cutters and trimmers; and by 1 percent for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders during this same time span. Meanwhile, employment for tire builders will remain flat through 2029. Increasing automation in manufacturing processes and technological advances that make some rubber goods better and longer-lasting have sharply reduced the number of rubber goods production jobs that are available. Those with advanced training, especially knowledge of computer systems that are used to operate high-tech manufacturing equipment, will have the best job prospects.

In its World Rubber Industry Outlook, the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) expected global demand for rubber to plummet 12.6 percent in 2020 because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Factory and retail closures and lockdowns were key factors. However, overall demand was expected to pick up again in 2021, rising 7.9 percent, thanks to increases in both non-tire (9.3 percent) and tire (6.9 percent) demand. Because 70 percent of the rubber industry is devoted to tires for vehicles, rubber goods production will always be related to the state of the automobile industry. When fewer cars are being manufactured and sold, there is less need for workers who make tires.

As new uses for synthetic rubber are developed, probably a smaller portion of the rubber industry will depend on making rubber tires. Instead, new products such as rubber-like paints, waterproofings, and noise-control pads for use in building construction may make up a larger part of the industry's production.

Normal employee turnover in this industry will mean that every year, some openings will become available as experienced workers move into new jobs or leave the workforce altogether.