In the United States, the plastics industry is the third-largest manufacturing industry. The outlook is strong nationally, from injection molding companies to high-demand 3D printing, plastics companies are expecting a 4.6 percent growth in 2016, which is projected to double in 2017. The plastics industry isn’t just massive — it actually translates to jobs. The industry employs nearly 900,000 workers in the United States alone, making plastics a key building block within manufacturing and for the U.S. job force overall. And that’s just part of the story — when you include plastics suppliers, the number goes even higher, with the entire plastics industry accounting for roughly 1.4 million jobs nationally.
Washington State is home to plastics manufacturers and establishments engaged in processing, marketing, support and captive activities that directly employ 14,150 people.
Nationally, Washington is ranked 22nd in plastics industry employment. Its home to a number of plastics dependent industries to make products or provide services. Plastics and dependent industries combined employ 763,000 people in Washington.
Similar to other advanced manufacturing industries, Plastic Injection Molding lacks credible on-the-job training programs. Specifically, Plastic Process Technician apprenticeships are non-existent. To further support this growing industry, AJAC has partnered with several Plastic Injection Molding companies to kick-off its inaugural Plastic Process Technician apprenticeship program in 2016. Learn more about what our Plastic Process Technician apprentices will be learning on-the-job.
