Upskilling And Reskilling In The Plastics Industry Statistics

Learning analytics are now used by 52% of L and D leaders to track training effectiveness in areas like completion and skill gains. At the same time, 44% of employers report hiring difficulty caused by skills gaps, even as plastics workplaces add new equipment, production standards, and compliance requirements. Reskilling and upskilling requirements intensify as clean energy investment rises by about $1.3 trillion per year and automation changes job tasks.

Key Takeaways

44% of employers report having difficulty filling positions due to skills gaps, according to WEF’s 2020 survey data included in the Future of Jobs report.
46% of workers say they learned new skills on the job within the last 12 months, according to OECD findings on adult learning (PIAAC-related analysis).
The U.S. BLS projected employment for manufacturing occupations will grow by 1.6% from 2022 to 2032, implying ongoing reskilling needs for replacement and expansion roles.
The global market for corporate e-learning (a common delivery method for upskilling) reached $38.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $117.0 billion by 2030, per Fortune Business Insights.
The global learning management system (LMS) market was valued at $11.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $27.9 billion by 2030, per Fortune Business Insights.
The global VR training market is projected to grow from $1.4 billion in 2023 to $8.1 billion by 2030, reflecting adoption of immersive learning for reskilling, per Fortune Business Insights.
The ETP (European Technology Platform) for the Future of Plastics reported that the plastics value chain is a major contributor to European manufacturing employment, with employment figures cited in their sector profile (1.6 million).
In 2023, U.S. manufacturing productivity grew by 2.6% (index), requiring workers to adopt improved methods and training for new productivity standards (BLS).
IEA estimates that manufacturing energy use is substantial and efficiency measures require training: efficiency improvements can cut industrial energy demand, creating skill demand for energy management (IEA).
McKinsey’s analysis projects productivity impact from automation that changes job tasks, necessitating reskilling across organizations (McKinsey “The future of work”).
The OECD estimates that spending on training is linked to productivity and earnings, citing large economic returns to adult learning interventions.
The World Bank’s Skills for Jobs database reports that training can improve employment outcomes, with evidence summarized across programs showing positive impacts that justify reskilling investment.
NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0) provides a structured approach to managing risks in AI adoption; organizations using AI-enabled training systems in manufacturing typically implement governance that affects training rollout cost and safety planning.
In the EU, REACH requires registration of chemical substances manufactured or imported in quantities of 1 metric ton per year or more, affecting operator training and compliance processes for plastics-related chemicals.
CLP Regulation harmonizes classification, labeling, and packaging of substances and mixtures; labeling requirements apply when a mixture meets specific hazard classification thresholds, driving compliance training for chemical handling in plastics production.

Skills gaps are widely slowing plastics hiring, but training and reskilling efforts are rapidly expanding.

01 · Category

Compliance & Safety9 stats

NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0) provides a structured approach to managing risks in AI adoption; organizations using AI-enabled training systems in manufacturing typically implement governance that affects training rollout cost and safety planning.

In the EU, REACH requires registration of chemical substances manufactured or imported in quantities of 1 metric ton per year or more, affecting operator training and compliance processes for plastics-related chemicals.

CLP Regulation harmonizes classification, labeling, and packaging of substances and mixtures; labeling requirements apply when a mixture meets specific hazard classification thresholds, driving compliance training for chemical handling in plastics production.

The EU’s Occupational Safety and Health framework includes a directive requiring employers to ensure workers are informed and trained on risks, applicable to chemical hazards in plastics processing.

The EU Seveso III Directive applies to establishments where dangerous substances are present at or above threshold quantities, requiring staff training for emergency preparedness (2012/18/EU thresholds).

ISO 45001 requires organizations to provide workers with training, instruction, and competence necessary for workplace health and safety, impacting training programs and reskilling practices in industrial plants.

In the U.S., OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires employers to train workers on safety data sheets and container labeling, driving compliance training for plastics chemical handling.

In the EU, the REACH deadline for registration of substances manufactured/imported in higher tonnage bands (10+ tonnes/year) was 2013, creating a compliance cycle that required training for chemical compliance teams.

The U.S. EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) includes reporting for industries handling listed toxic chemicals; 2022 TRI data showed thousands of facilities reported releases, indicating ongoing compliance training for chemical process operators.

Interpretation

Compliance & Safety Interpretation

Across Compliance and Safety, the plastics industry shows a clear regulatory pressure to upskill and reskill, with frameworks like the EU REACH rule that triggers registration at 1 metric ton per year and safety duties under EU directives such as Seveso III and ISO 45001 that require informed training for workers.

02 · Category

Workforce Transition6 stats

44% of employers report having difficulty filling positions due to skills gaps, according to WEF’s 2020 survey data included in the Future of Jobs report.

46% of workers say they learned new skills on the job within the last 12 months, according to OECD findings on adult learning (PIAAC-related analysis).

The U.S. BLS projected employment for manufacturing occupations will grow by 1.6% from 2022 to 2032, implying ongoing reskilling needs for replacement and expansion roles.

The World Bank reports that 70% of employers expect workforce skills to be a major constraint on growth over the next 5 years.

3.7 million manufacturing jobs were open in the U.S. in 2022 as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) manufacturing series for job openings.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that clean energy investment needs to rise by around $1.3 trillion per year, driving new industrial roles and associated reskilling demand (context for energy-transition skills).

Interpretation

Workforce Transition Interpretation

In workforce transition for the plastics industry, skills gaps are already limiting hiring with 44% of employers struggling to fill roles, while 46% of workers report learning new skills in the past year, signaling that reskilling must accelerate to keep pace with ongoing demand and growth constraints like the 70% of employers who expect workforce skills to constrain progress.

03 · Category

Industry Skills Demand6 stats

The ETP (European Technology Platform) for the Future of Plastics reported that the plastics value chain is a major contributor to European manufacturing employment, with employment figures cited in their sector profile (1.6 million).

In 2023, U.S. manufacturing productivity grew by 2.6% (index), requiring workers to adopt improved methods and training for new productivity standards (BLS).

IEA estimates that manufacturing energy use is substantial and efficiency measures require training: efficiency improvements can cut industrial energy demand, creating skill demand for energy management (IEA).

The IEA projects that global demand for industrial robots will grow by about 14% annually to 2025 (historical IEA industrial automation outlook), implying workforce training needs for robotics operations and maintenance.

The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) reports that industrial robot installations reached 517,000 units globally in 2022, driving operator and technician reskilling in manufacturing plants.

WEF estimates that the fastest-growing roles over 2023–2027 include data analysts and AI-related occupations, which increases training demand for advanced manufacturing analytics (WEF).

Interpretation

Industry Skills Demand Interpretation

Industry Skills Demand is set to rise as automation and AI expand quickly, with global industrial robot installations hitting 517,000 units in 2022 and IEA projecting about 14% annual growth to 2025 alongside WEF’s call for more training for data and AI roles.

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04 · Category

Technology & Training5 stats

The global market for corporate e-learning (a common delivery method for upskilling) reached $38.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $117.0 billion by 2030, per Fortune Business Insights.

The global learning management system (LMS) market was valued at $11.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $27.9 billion by 2030, per Fortune Business Insights.

The global VR training market is projected to grow from $1.4 billion in 2023 to $8.1 billion by 2030, reflecting adoption of immersive learning for reskilling, per Fortune Business Insights.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported $500 million in funding for apprenticeship grants in FY2022, supporting structured training pathways that can include manufacturing sectors.

In 2023, the European Commission’s European Social Fund+ (ESF+) resources allocated to skills and employment measures total €99.3 billion for the 2021–2027 period, enabling industry training and reskilling initiatives.

Interpretation

Technology & Training Interpretation

As organizations invest heavily in technology enabled learning, the corporate e-learning market hit $38.8 billion in 2023 while the LMS market is forecast to nearly triple from $11.1 billion to $27.9 billion by 2030 and VR training is projected to rise from $1.4 billion to $8.1 billion, signaling that Technology & Training will increasingly drive upskilling and reskilling across industries.

05 · Category

Market Size4 stats

2023: 31% of organizations invested in internal talent marketplaces or similar internal mobility platforms (Global Talent Trends survey), which often requires reskilling tooling and skills taxonomy alignment

2023: $12.0 billion global market for learning analytics (vendor/analyst estimate), relevant because learning analytics helps measure training effectiveness for reskilling programs

2024: $9.3 billion global market for corporate virtual classrooms/e-learning services (vendor estimate), supporting training delivery methods used for workforce reskilling

2024: $6.8 billion global market for workforce management/skills platforms (vendor estimate), reflecting tooling adoption for scheduling, skills tracking, and training assignment

Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

For the plastics industry, market size signals rapid expansion in the training and talent technology stack, with learning analytics projected at $12.0 billion in 2023 and corporate virtual classrooms growing to $9.3 billion in 2024 while workforce management and skills platforms reach $6.8 billion in 2024.

06 · Category

Industry Overview12 stats

2022: 12.7% of U.S. manufacturing workers reported receiving employer-sponsored training in the past year (NES/NSCG-derived estimates), supporting availability of training channels for upskilling/reskilling

2019: 27% of U.S. adults (age 25–64) participated in formal or non-formal education/training within the last year (OECD PIAAC-aligned publication, alternative reputable source not excluded by your domain rules), consistent with baseline participation in reskilling

2021: 46% of job seekers who received training for a specific occupation reported better employment outcomes than those who did not (peer-reviewed meta-analytic evidence on active labor market policies), supporting the effectiveness of structured reskilling

Meta-analysis: Job training programs increase employment by about 8 percentage points on average relative to control groups (systematic review of employment effects), evidencing measurable outcomes from reskilling interventions

2022: 6.0% of U.S. manufacturing establishments reported difficulty hiring due to “skills” in the last 12 months (BLS JOLTS/Employer Skills survey-derived series in BLS publications), indicating demand pressures for reskilling in manufacturing

2024: 52% of L&D leaders said they track training effectiveness using learning analytics metrics (e.g., completion, mastery, skill gains), which is a performance metric for reskilling programs

Systematic review: safety training interventions in industrial settings reduce incident rates by an average of ~10–20% (peer-reviewed synthesis), showing performance impact relevant to chemical/process plastics workplaces

2020–2022: 58% of manufacturing companies using predictive maintenance reported improved equipment availability (industry survey), implying training for maintenance technicians on new analytics tools to sustain gains

McKinsey’s analysis projects productivity impact from automation that changes job tasks, necessitating reskilling across organizations (McKinsey “The future of work”).

The OECD estimates that spending on training is linked to productivity and earnings, citing large economic returns to adult learning interventions.

The World Bank’s Skills for Jobs database reports that training can improve employment outcomes, with evidence summarized across programs showing positive impacts that justify reskilling investment.

80% of U.S. employers reported that they had job openings they could not fill due to skills mismatch in 2023 (including lack of applicants with the right skills), signaling demand for upskilling/reskilling

Interpretation

Industry Overview Interpretation

For the industry overview picture, the data suggests training is both widely pursued and still critical since only 12.7% of U.S. manufacturing workers got employer sponsored training in 2022 while 6.0% of manufacturing establishments in 2022 struggled to hire over skills gaps, yet job training shows measurable payoff with meta analyses finding about an 8 percentage point employment increase on average.

report visual · Comparison

Skills gaps create ongoing reskilling pressure

Employers report difficulty filling roles due to skills gaps, while a substantial share of workers report learning new skills on the job—highlighting the need for continual upskilling and reskilling in manufacturing and related plastics roles.

46% of workers say they learned new skills on the job within the last 12 months, according to OECD findings on adult lea46%

44% of employers report having difficulty filling positions due to skills gaps, according to WEF’s 2020 survey data incl

44%

NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0) provides a structured approach to managing risks in AI adoption; organi

1.0

source-verifiedweforum.org · oecd.org · nist.gov2020

Reference

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APA

Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Upskilling And Reskilling In The Plastics Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-plastics-industry-statistics

MLA

Stefan Wendt. "Upskilling And Reskilling In The Plastics Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-plastics-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Upskilling And Reskilling In The Plastics Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-plastics-industry-statistics.