GITNUXREPORT 2026

Hr In The Plastics Industry Statistics

The plastics industry is growing but faces significant challenges in hiring and retaining skilled workers.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

68% of plastics employees receive annual performance reviews.

Statistic 2

Average hourly wage for plastics operators: $22.50.

Statistic 3

85% offer health insurance to full-time plastics workers.

Statistic 4

Bonus structures in 60% of plastics firms.

Statistic 5

401(k) matching average 4% of salary.

Statistic 6

Paid time off averages 15 days per year.

Statistic 7

Overtime pay premium: 1.5x standard rate.

Statistic 8

Equity compensation in 20% of plastics executives.

Statistic 9

55% increased benefits to combat inflation.

Statistic 10

Average salary for HR managers in plastics: $110,000.

Statistic 11

Wellness programs cover 70% of workforce.

Statistic 12

Shift differentials add 10% to base pay.

Statistic 13

45% offer tuition reimbursement up to $5,000.

Statistic 14

Pension plans in 15% of plastics companies.

Statistic 15

Gender pay gap: 12% in plastics manufacturing.

Statistic 16

92% compliance with minimum wage laws.

Statistic 17

Variable pay makes up 18% of total comp.

Statistic 18

Childcare benefits in 25% of firms.

Statistic 19

Average merit increase: 3.5% in 2023.

Statistic 20

Longevity bonuses after 5 years: $2,000 avg.

Statistic 21

40% of plastics recruiters use LinkedIn primarily.

Statistic 22

Time-to-hire for skilled plastics roles averages 45 days.

Statistic 23

55% of plastics firms increased starting salaries to attract talent.

Statistic 24

62% report shortage of machine operators in hiring.

Statistic 25

75% of plastics HR use job boards for sourcing.

Statistic 26

Cost per hire in plastics industry: $4,200 average.

Statistic 27

38% turnover before first year in entry-level plastics jobs.

Statistic 28

50% of plastics postings receive fewer than 10 applicants.

Statistic 29

Referral hiring accounts for 28% of plastics placements.

Statistic 30

65% of plastics managers say skills gap hinders hiring.

Statistic 31

Online assessments used by 42% for plastics screening.

Statistic 32

70% increase in remote recruitment for plastics admin roles.

Statistic 33

52% of hires lack formal plastics training certification.

Statistic 34

Plastics firms spend 15% budget on recruitment advertising.

Statistic 35

60% prioritize experience over education in hiring.

Statistic 36

33% use AI tools for resume screening in plastics HR.

Statistic 37

H1B visas for plastics engineers up 20% in 2023.

Statistic 38

48% report generational hiring gaps (Gen Z).

Statistic 39

Average plastics job posting stays active 30 days.

Statistic 40

25% of plastics recruitment via staffing agencies.

Statistic 41

Plastics industry turnover rate: 18.5% in 2023.

Statistic 42

Voluntary turnover: 12% annually.

Statistic 43

40% cite better pay as top reason for leaving.

Statistic 44

Retention bonus programs in 50% of firms.

Statistic 45

Employee engagement score: 68/100.

Statistic 46

55% of leavers had less than 2 years tenure.

Statistic 47

Flexible scheduling retains 30% more millennials.

Statistic 48

Exit interviews conducted by 75% of HR teams.

Statistic 49

Internal promotions fill 25% of vacancies.

Statistic 50

Burnout cited in 22% of plastics departures.

Statistic 51

Recognition programs boost retention by 20%.

Statistic 52

35% turnover reduction via career pathing.

Statistic 53

High performers turnover: 8% vs 25% average.

Statistic 54

Remote work options cut turnover by 15%.

Statistic 55

Diversity initiatives improve retention 18%.

Statistic 56

Average cost of turnover: $15,000 per employee.

Statistic 57

60% plan to stay 3+ years with good culture.

Statistic 58

Supervisor quality impacts 50% of retention decisions.

Statistic 59

Unionized plants have 10% lower turnover.

Statistic 60

Feedback surveys predict 70% of at-risk leavers.

Statistic 61

90% of plastics training hours focus on safety compliance.

Statistic 62

Annual training spend per employee: $1,200 in plastics.

Statistic 63

72% of workers receive less than 40 hours training yearly.

Statistic 64

65% of plastics firms offer apprenticeships.

Statistic 65

Upskilling programs reduced errors by 25%.

Statistic 66

55% use e-learning for plastics operator training.

Statistic 67

Certification rates: 40% for plastics technicians.

Statistic 68

Leadership training covers 15% of total HR training budget.

Statistic 69

80% mandate OSHA training for plastics workers.

Statistic 70

Digital skills training adopted by 45% of firms.

Statistic 71

ROI on training: 4:1 in plastics manufacturing.

Statistic 72

30 hours average onboarding training for new hires.

Statistic 73

62% report improved productivity post-training.

Statistic 74

Sustainability training in 35% of programs.

Statistic 75

Cross-training implemented by 50% of plants.

Statistic 76

20% increase in training hours since 2020.

Statistic 77

Mentor programs in 28% of plastics companies.

Statistic 78

VR training pilots in 12% of large firms.

Statistic 79

75% completion rate for plastics online courses.

Statistic 80

Soft skills training gap affects 40% of supervisors.

Statistic 81

Average tenure post-training: 2.5 years.

Statistic 82

In 2023, the U.S. plastics industry employed approximately 1.1 million workers.

Statistic 83

Employment in plastics product manufacturing grew by 2.1% from 2021 to 2022.

Statistic 84

28% of plastics manufacturers reported difficulty finding skilled labor in 2023.

Statistic 85

The plastics sector added 15,000 jobs in the last quarter of 2022.

Statistic 86

Projections indicate 35,000 new jobs in plastics by 2030.

Statistic 87

45% of plastics firms expanded workforce in 2023 due to demand.

Statistic 88

Average plastics plant employs 150 workers on average.

Statistic 89

Plastics industry workforce is 65% male-dominated.

Statistic 90

12% annual growth in entry-level positions since 2020.

Statistic 91

Over 500,000 workers in plastics processing roles.

Statistic 92

22% of plastics jobs unfilled in Midwest region 2023.

Statistic 93

Plastics employment peaked at 1.2 million in 2019.

Statistic 94

8% increase in temporary workers in plastics 2022.

Statistic 95

Southeast U.S. plastics workforce grew 5% YoY.

Statistic 96

30,000 apprenticeships needed by 2025 in plastics.

Statistic 97

Plastics industry labor participation rate at 62%.

Statistic 98

18% growth in automation roles offsetting labor gaps.

Statistic 99

1.05 million total plastics-related jobs in NAICS 326.

Statistic 100

Female workforce share rose to 35% in 2023.

Statistic 101

Aging workforce: 25% over 55 in plastics manufacturing.

1/101

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While the U.S. plastics industry employed 1.1 million people in 2023 and added 15,000 jobs in a single quarter, its foundation is cracking, as nearly one-third of manufacturers reported severe difficulty finding skilled labor.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, the U.S. plastics industry employed approximately 1.1 million workers.
Employment in plastics product manufacturing grew by 2.1% from 2021 to 2022.
28% of plastics manufacturers reported difficulty finding skilled labor in 2023.
40% of plastics recruiters use LinkedIn primarily.
Time-to-hire for skilled plastics roles averages 45 days.
55% of plastics firms increased starting salaries to attract talent.
90% of plastics training hours focus on safety compliance.
Annual training spend per employee: $1,200 in plastics.
72% of workers receive less than 40 hours training yearly.
68% of plastics employees receive annual performance reviews.
Average hourly wage for plastics operators: $22.50.
85% offer health insurance to full-time plastics workers.
Plastics industry turnover rate: 18.5% in 2023.
Voluntary turnover: 12% annually.
40% cite better pay as top reason for leaving.

The plastics industry is growing but faces significant challenges in hiring and retaining skilled workers.

Compensation and Benefits

68% of plastics employees receive annual performance reviews.
Average hourly wage for plastics operators: $22.50.
85% offer health insurance to full-time plastics workers.
Bonus structures in 60% of plastics firms.
401(k) matching average 4% of salary.
Paid time off averages 15 days per year.
Overtime pay premium: 1.5x standard rate.
Equity compensation in 20% of plastics executives.
55% increased benefits to combat inflation.
Average salary for HR managers in plastics: $110,000.
Wellness programs cover 70% of workforce.
Shift differentials add 10% to base pay.
45% offer tuition reimbursement up to $5,000.
Pension plans in 15% of plastics companies.
Gender pay gap: 12% in plastics manufacturing.
92% compliance with minimum wage laws.
Variable pay makes up 18% of total comp.
Childcare benefits in 25% of firms.
Average merit increase: 3.5% in 2023.
Longevity bonuses after 5 years: $2,000 avg.

Compensation and Benefits Interpretation

While the plastics industry assembles a respectable benefits package and dutifully checks compliance boxes, the persistent 12% gender pay gap reveals the mold still needs to be broken for true equity.

Recruitment Challenges

40% of plastics recruiters use LinkedIn primarily.
Time-to-hire for skilled plastics roles averages 45 days.
55% of plastics firms increased starting salaries to attract talent.
62% report shortage of machine operators in hiring.
75% of plastics HR use job boards for sourcing.
Cost per hire in plastics industry: $4,200 average.
38% turnover before first year in entry-level plastics jobs.
50% of plastics postings receive fewer than 10 applicants.
Referral hiring accounts for 28% of plastics placements.
65% of plastics managers say skills gap hinders hiring.
Online assessments used by 42% for plastics screening.
70% increase in remote recruitment for plastics admin roles.
52% of hires lack formal plastics training certification.
Plastics firms spend 15% budget on recruitment advertising.
60% prioritize experience over education in hiring.
33% use AI tools for resume screening in plastics HR.
H1B visas for plastics engineers up 20% in 2023.
48% report generational hiring gaps (Gen Z).
Average plastics job posting stays active 30 days.
25% of plastics recruitment via staffing agencies.

Recruitment Challenges Interpretation

Despite LinkedIn's popularity and salaries rising, the plastics industry faces a hiring paradox where high costs and a frantic search for qualified talent are met with a shallow applicant pool and a revolving door of new hires, all while struggling with a persistent skills gap that even AI and staffing agencies can't fully bridge.

Retention and Turnover

Plastics industry turnover rate: 18.5% in 2023.
Voluntary turnover: 12% annually.
40% cite better pay as top reason for leaving.
Retention bonus programs in 50% of firms.
Employee engagement score: 68/100.
55% of leavers had less than 2 years tenure.
Flexible scheduling retains 30% more millennials.
Exit interviews conducted by 75% of HR teams.
Internal promotions fill 25% of vacancies.
Burnout cited in 22% of plastics departures.
Recognition programs boost retention by 20%.
35% turnover reduction via career pathing.
High performers turnover: 8% vs 25% average.
Remote work options cut turnover by 15%.
Diversity initiatives improve retention 18%.
Average cost of turnover: $15,000 per employee.
60% plan to stay 3+ years with good culture.
Supervisor quality impacts 50% of retention decisions.
Unionized plants have 10% lower turnover.
Feedback surveys predict 70% of at-risk leavers.

Retention and Turnover Interpretation

The plastics industry is hemorrhaging talent, primarily because it keeps trying to patch leaks with retention bonuses while ignoring the gaping holes in pay, culture, and career growth that employees are actively fleeing through.

Training and Development

90% of plastics training hours focus on safety compliance.
Annual training spend per employee: $1,200 in plastics.
72% of workers receive less than 40 hours training yearly.
65% of plastics firms offer apprenticeships.
Upskilling programs reduced errors by 25%.
55% use e-learning for plastics operator training.
Certification rates: 40% for plastics technicians.
Leadership training covers 15% of total HR training budget.
80% mandate OSHA training for plastics workers.
Digital skills training adopted by 45% of firms.
ROI on training: 4:1 in plastics manufacturing.
30 hours average onboarding training for new hires.
62% report improved productivity post-training.
Sustainability training in 35% of programs.
Cross-training implemented by 50% of plants.
20% increase in training hours since 2020.
Mentor programs in 28% of plastics companies.
VR training pilots in 12% of large firms.
75% completion rate for plastics online courses.
Soft skills training gap affects 40% of supervisors.
Average tenure post-training: 2.5 years.

Training and Development Interpretation

The plastics industry is so busy keeping workers safe from machines that it often forgets to train them beyond survival, yet the little investment it does make returns dividends in productivity and profit.

Workforce Size and Growth

In 2023, the U.S. plastics industry employed approximately 1.1 million workers.
Employment in plastics product manufacturing grew by 2.1% from 2021 to 2022.
28% of plastics manufacturers reported difficulty finding skilled labor in 2023.
The plastics sector added 15,000 jobs in the last quarter of 2022.
Projections indicate 35,000 new jobs in plastics by 2030.
45% of plastics firms expanded workforce in 2023 due to demand.
Average plastics plant employs 150 workers on average.
Plastics industry workforce is 65% male-dominated.
12% annual growth in entry-level positions since 2020.
Over 500,000 workers in plastics processing roles.
22% of plastics jobs unfilled in Midwest region 2023.
Plastics employment peaked at 1.2 million in 2019.
8% increase in temporary workers in plastics 2022.
Southeast U.S. plastics workforce grew 5% YoY.
30,000 apprenticeships needed by 2025 in plastics.
Plastics industry labor participation rate at 62%.
18% growth in automation roles offsetting labor gaps.
1.05 million total plastics-related jobs in NAICS 326.
Female workforce share rose to 35% in 2023.
Aging workforce: 25% over 55 in plastics manufacturing.

Workforce Size and Growth Interpretation

The plastics industry is caught in a strange tug-of-war, adding thousands of jobs while simultaneously struggling to find the people to fill them, revealing a sector growing faster than its talent pipeline.