The printing industry employed 413,000 workers in the US in 2023, down 2% from the prior year but stable in packaging roles. Germany recorded 138,000 printing employees in 2023, with 12% already working in digital technologies. Across the sector, workforce shifts are tracking automation and digital print growth instead of moving in a single straight line.
Key Takeaways
- US printing industry employed 413,000 workers in 2023, down 2% from 2022 but stable in packaging segment
- Printing industry generated 120 million tons of CO2 emissions globally in 2022, 40% from paper production
- The global commercial printing market size was valued at USD 708.37 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.4% from 2024 to 2030
- Worldwide newspaper printing output fell to 144 million tons in 2022, down 5.3% from 2021
- Adoption of UV LED curing systems in printing presses increased by 25% globally in 2023, reducing energy use by 40%
Printing press industry output is steadily growing as demand for printed materials and packaging increases worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment & Workforce20 stats
01
US printing industry employed 413,000 workers in 2023, down 2% from 2022 but stable in packaging segment
02
Germany had 138,000 printing employees in 2023, with 12% skilled in digital technologies
03
India's printing workforce exceeded 1.5 million in 2023, 60% in small MSME units under 10 workers
04
UK printing sector jobs totaled 118,000 in 2023, with 25% part-time and 40% over age 50
05
China printing industry labor force was 7.2 million in 2022, average wage RMB 65,000 annually
06
Brazil printing jobs numbered 250,000 in 2023, 15% growth in skilled operators for flexo
07
Australia printing employment at 45,000 in 2023, down 5% with digital skills gap at 30%
08
France had 52,000 printing workers in 2023, 28% women, highest in bookbinding
09
Global printing apprenticeships trained 50,000 new workers in 2023, focused on automation skills
10
Canadian printing sector employed 62,000 in 2023, turnover rate 12% due to retirement wave
11
Italy printing employment 48,000 in 2023, 22% decline since 2010 automation
12
Spain had 35,000 printing jobs in 2023, 18% in digital specialist roles
13
South Korea printing workforce 120,000 in 2023, average age 47 with training gap
14
Netherlands printing employees 22,000 in 2023, 35% certified in sustainable practices
15
Turkey printing sector 150,000 workers in 2023, 25% freelancers in small shops
16
Sweden printing jobs 12,000 in 2023, highest productivity per worker in EU at €250k revenue
17
Poland printing industry employed 80,000 in 2023, growth 5% in packaging roles
18
Thailand printing workforce 90,000 in 2023, 40% migrants in low-skill jobs
19
New Zealand printing employment 8,500 in 2023, 28% part-time shift workers
20
Vietnam printing jobs 200,000 in 2023, doubling since 2015 export boom
Interpretation
Employment & Workforce Interpretation
The global printing industry is a tale of two presses: while automation and digital shifts are thinning traditional ranks, they're also creating new, specialized roles that nations are racing to fill—or risk being left with a generation gap and a skills gap bound together like an unread book.
02 · Category
Environmental & Sustainability20 stats
01
Printing industry generated 120 million tons of CO2 emissions globally in 2022, 40% from paper production
02
65% of global printers adopted recycled paper by 2023, averaging 45% recycled content
03
Water consumption in printing fell 25% industry-wide since 2015, to 15 liters per 1,000 sqm printed in 2023
04
EU printing presses reduced energy intensity by 30% from 2010-2023, to 1.2 kWh per sqm
05
72% of US packaging printers used vegetable-based inks in 2023, cutting VOC emissions 50%
06
Global waste paper from printing recycled at 82% rate in 2023, diverting 50 million tons from landfill
07
Bio-based adhesives adopted by 40% of label printers in 2023, reducing plastic use 15%
08
Solar power installed in 18% of large printing facilities worldwide by 2023, generating 2.5 TWh annually
09
Carbon footprint of digital printing 35% lower than offset per 1,000 sheets in 2023 studies
10
55% of Asian printers certified FSC for sustainable forestry by 2023, up from 30% in 2018
11
45% of global printing paper sourced from certified sustainable forests in 2023
12
Anaerobic digesters in 10% of large plants processed 100,000 tons ink waste in 2023
13
LED UV lamps replaced mercury in 60% of new curing systems 2023, saving 70% energy
14
Zero-waste printing initiatives achieved 95% material efficiency in 20% of EU firms 2023
15
Biodegradable substrates used in 12% of flexible packaging prints in 2023
16
GHG Protocol compliance by 75% of top 200 printers globally in 2023 reporting
17
Rainforest-free certification held by 80% of palm oil inks in 2023 supply chain
18
Closed-loop water systems in 50% of gravure presses reduced usage 90% by 2023
19
Compostable lamination films printed on 5% of retail packaging in 2023 pilots
20
Biodiversity impact assessments conducted by 30% of paper mills supplying printers 2023
Interpretation
Environmental & Sustainability Interpretation
The printing industry is diligently scrubbing its inky fingers, with impressive gains in recycled paper, renewable energy, and water savings, yet its sheer scale means it must still squeeze every last drop of waste and emissions from a process fundamentally rooted in resource consumption.
03 · Category
Market Size & Growth19 stats
01
The global commercial printing market size was valued at USD 708.37 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.4% from 2024 to 2030
02
In the US, printing industry revenue reached $90.5 billion in 2023, marking a 1.2% increase from the previous year driven by packaging demand
03
Europe's printing press market generated €145 billion in revenue in 2022, with digital printing accounting for 35% of the total
04
Asia-Pacific printing market is expected to reach $250 billion by 2028, growing at 4.5% CAGR due to urbanization and e-commerce packaging needs
05
The digital printing segment worldwide grew by 7.8% in 2023, surpassing traditional offset printing for the first time in label applications
06
US book printing revenue hit $2.6 billion in 2023, up 3% YoY with print-on-demand contributing 25% of volumes
07
Global packaging printing market valued at $380 billion in 2023, projected to $500 billion by 2030 at 4.1% CAGR
08
UK printing industry turnover was £11.2 billion in 2022, with a 2% decline due to paper cost inflation
09
India's commercial printing sector reached INR 1.2 lakh crore in FY2023, growing 8% amid festive demand
10
North American flexographic printing market size was $28.5 billion in 2023, expected to grow to $35.2 billion by 2028
11
US printing industry market size was valued at $837.5 billion in 2023, growing 1.8% YoY
12
Commercial printing in Europe reached €84 billion in 2023, with packaging at 42% share
13
Latin America printing revenue hit $25 billion in 2023, led by Brazil's $8B market
14
Digital large format printing market grew to $12.4 billion globally in 2023 at 9.2% CAGR
15
Global security printing market valued at $32 billion in 2023, projected 5.1% CAGR to 2030
16
Australian printing industry revenue $4.2 billion AUD in 2023, down 1.5% due to digital ads
17
Middle East printing market $15 billion in 2023, growing 6% with events sector boom
18
Textile printing market worldwide $28.7 billion in 2023, digital segment 22% share
19
Africa printing output $10 billion in 2023, South Africa 40% of continental total
Interpretation
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
A nearly trillion-dollar industry proves the rumors of printing's death were greatly exaggerated, as its heart now beats in the steady thrum of e-commerce boxes, digital labels, and the enduring allure of a freshly printed page.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production & Output20 stats
01
Worldwide newspaper printing output fell to 144 million tons in 2022, down 5.3% from 2021
02
US offset printing production volume reached 1.2 million tons of paper consumed in 2023 for commercial jobs
03
Global inkjet digital printing installed base exceeded 15,000 units in 2023, producing 2.5 billion sqm annually
04
China's printing production hit 55 billion books in 2022, accounting for 75% of global book output
05
European label printing output grew 4% to 8.5 billion sqm in 2023, led by shrink sleeves at 22% share
06
US packaging printing presses produced 450 billion units of flexible packaging in 2023, up 2.8%
07
Worldwide magazine printing circulation dropped to 1.2 billion copies in 2022 from 1.5 billion in 2018
08
Japan printed 6.8 billion advertising flyers (チラシ) in 2022, down 3% YoY due to digital shift
09
Global 3D printing additive manufacturing output volume was 1.2 million tons of material in 2023 for industrial presses
10
Global corrugated printing production 250 billion sqm in 2023, up 3.5% YoY
11
US brochure printing volumes 850 million units in 2023, down 4% from peak
12
India produced 950 million calendars in 2023, 70% offset litho
13
Worldwide direct mail printing reached 450 billion pieces in 2023, stable growth 1%
14
German packaging printing output 5.2 billion sqm in 2023, flexo 60% dominant
15
Global photo printing market output 15 billion prints in 2023, mostly inkjet at home
16
UK book production 180 million units in 2023, 55% hardback premium
17
Mexico printing industry output 450,000 tons paper in 2023 for commercial
18
Russia printed 1.2 billion stamps and labels in 2023, security features up 20%
19
Southeast Asia signage printing 2.8 billion sqm in 2023, vinyl dominant 65%
20
Screen printing presses produced 1.5 billion garments worldwide in 2023
Interpretation
Production & Output Interpretation
The printed word may be retreating in the newsstand, but it is aggressively advancing on the warehouse shelf, proving that while we might read less on paper, we certainly buy everything wrapped in it.
05 · Category
Technology & Innovation20 stats
01
Adoption of UV LED curing systems in printing presses increased by 25% globally in 2023, reducing energy use by 40%
02
HP's PageWide Web Press technology printed over 10 trillion pages cumulatively by 2023 with 99.9% uptime
03
Nanography printing process by Landa reached commercial speeds of 9,000 sqm/hour in 2023 installations
04
AI-driven color management software reduced makeready time by 60% in 40% of European presses in 2023
05
5-color digital presses outnumbered 4-color by 3:1 in new installations worldwide in 2023
06
Inline finishing automation integrated in 55% of new sheetfed offset presses sold in 2023, boosting productivity 35%
07
Waterless offset printing adopted by 18% of global commercial printers in 2023, saving 30% water usage
08
Robotic palletizing systems installed in 25% of large US printing plants by 2023, cutting labor 20%
09
Hybrid offset-digital presses grew 15% in shipments to 2,500 units globally in 2023
10
Cloud-based workflow software used by 70% of top 500 printers worldwide in 2023
11
Komori's new Lithrone GX40 advance press achieved 18,000 sheets/hour with full automation in 2023 demos
12
Xerox's Trivor 2400 inkjet press printed 1,000 ft/min with aqueous inks, adopted by 150 sites in 2023
13
Automated die-cutting speed reached 12,000 sheets/hour in Bobst's new M8 Vision in 2023
14
Variable data printing (VDP) usage up 45% in 2023 via EFI Fiery servers
15
8-color extended gamut (ECG) printing reduced ink use 25% in 30% of flexo converters 2023
16
Holographic foiling presses installed 500 units globally in 2023 for premium packaging
17
Predictive maintenance IoT sensors in 40% of presses cut downtime 50% in 2023 surveys
18
Fluorine-free inks for food packaging approved for 20% more presses in EU 2023
19
Augmented reality integration in print workflows used by 15% of agencies in 2023
20
High-speed inkjet for books hit 1,000 ppm in Ricoh Pro VC70000 series 2023
Interpretation
Technology & Innovation Interpretation
The printing industry's breakneck transformation into a realm of gluttonous efficiency is now powered by AI, automation, and sustainable tech, proving that saving the planet and your deadlines can be a surprisingly swift and colorful affair.
Reference
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APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Printing Press Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/printing-press-industry-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Printing Press Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/printing-press-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Printing Press Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/printing-press-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
86 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level