Plastics and the labor crunch

The plastics jobs market, like most markets, is in an unprecedented state of flux. As a startling number of employees leave their jobs, employers find themselves hamstrung by a dearth of workers. With the market further roiled by the pandemic, some plastics companies have found success by turning to automation, while others seek out more diverse hires and work to improve employee relations as they strive to develop a stable and lasting workforce.

Over the past two years, PMM Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna has taken a deep dive into the labor crunch. Read more:

• Westminster Tool and Monoflo International have grown their staff, and their skill levels, with company-sponsored training and other perks.
• Investing in workers' education will lead to better retention as well as consistent production of high-quality parts, say providers of training programs.
• The quest to land top workers leads a custom molder to diversify as the plastics industry’s workforce remains unrepresentative.
• A Second Chance program for the formerly incarcerated buoys CKS Packaging and gives workers a new start.
• Mold maker emphasizes cross-training, continuous learning, and builds its hiring process based on attitude, rather than experience.
• In eBook format: "Plastics and the Labor Crunch, Part 1: Causes and Solutions"
• Prospective employees are calling the shots, demanding higher wages and better working conditions, as manufacturers struggle to keep up with the rebounding economy.
• Where did all the workers go? The answer is not so simple; factors include COVID-19 deaths and continued fears of infection, retirements, disruptions in childcare, even a higher savings rate.
• Plastics industry leaders and consultants say making employees feel valued and respected is key to establishing a loyal, engaged workforce.
• Processors are increasingly turning to robots; experts say implementing automation makes workers' jobs easier and offers a quick return on investment.
• One key to meeting labor shortfalls is making sure that women, minorities and other underrepresented workers feel welcome and respected on the job, experts say.
• Ron Shinn: Employers must recognize the promise of immigrants as a source of labor. 
• Offering apprenticeships and collaborating with other manufacturing companies are among the ways employers can help grow a pool of workers with the right skills.

• Find out how Bay Plastics Machinery in Bay City, Mich., is combatting the labor shortage — by training up the next generation of workers, with programs for students in high school and college.  

  The availability of skilled labor played a role in Entek’s ongoing expansion, as the company chose to locate a second facility nearly 900 miles away from its first, to ensure it would have enough applicants to fill some 50 jobs it plans to post in the next year.

• As the search for skilled professionals tightens, administrators at colleges with plastics programs say students’ prospects remain bright. But they believe the industry needs to do more to overcome negative public perceptions.

• Investing in workers' education will lead to better retention as well as consistent production of high-quality parts, say providers of training programs.

• In our on-demand webinar, Maureen Steinwall of Steinwall Inc. and Michael Sinclair of Elevate Solutions Group discuss how they’re managing through the labor crunch and give lessons to apply to your own shop.