Metal and Plastic Processing Workers

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Employment

Major employers:

Plastics products manufacturers
Motor vehicle parts manufacturers
Machine shops and nut, bolt, and screw manufacturers
Metal products manufacturers
Metal forging and stamping companies
Temporary worker agencies

Outlook

Growth in this career is declining. The decline is tied to the decline in the manufacturing industry. More plastic and metal parts are manufactured overseas. Automation means that many parts can be made by machines and robots. Fewer workers are required.

Job openings will occur as current metal and plastic processing machine operators retire or switch to other careers. Job prospects are best for those with experience operating computer-controlled equipment.

Metal and Plastic Processing Workers (CIS 100379)

Location	Employment	&	Growth		>>>>	Annual openings
			This occupation	All occupations
Illinois	43,977 Very large	&	-2.9%	2.7%	>>>>	4,120 Very High
Champaign Area	744 Very large	&	0.4%	1.9%	>>>>	71 Moderate
Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area	1,205 Very large	&	-5.2%	-1.2%	>>>>	110 High
Cook County	12,945 Very large	&	-2.6%	3.0%	>>>>	1,215 Very High
Decatur Area	502 Very large	&	-6.2%	0.1%	>>>>	47 Moderate
DeKalb-Elgin-Aurora Area	3,287 Very large	&	-3.3%	4.0%	>>>>	304 Very High
Du Page County	4,736 Very large	&	-2.7%	3.7%	>>>>	445 Very High
Edwardsville Area	1,486 Very large	&	0.8%	4.4%	>>>>	148 High
Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area	399 Very large	&	-3.8%	-2.2%	>>>>	35 Moderate
Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area	651 Very large	&	-5.2%	-0.1%	>>>>	62 High
Lake County	3,985 Very large	&	-0.7%	2.6%	>>>>	380 Very High
McHenry County	1,249 Very large	&	-0.9%	6.1%	>>>>	120 High
Mt Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area	1,148 Very large	&	-1.9%	0.2%	>>>>	103 High
Northwest Illinois Area	1,372 Very large	&	-4.1%	5.1%	>>>>	130 High
Peoria-Bloomington Area	2,972 Very large	&	-2.5%	1.3%	>>>>	287 Very High
Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area	687 Very large	&	-7.6%	-1.6%	>>>>	61 High
Rock Island-Moline Area	888 Very large	&	0.8%	1.8%	>>>>	90 High
Rockford Area	2,515 Very large	&	-4.4%	2.4%	>>>>	232 Very High
Shawnee National Forest Area	133 Medium	&	-4.5%	-0.3%	>>>>	9 Very few
Springfield Area	462 Large	&	-5.6%	-0.8%	>>>>	41 Few
St Louis-Belleville Area	657 Large	&	-6.5%	0.2%	>>>>	57 Moderate
Vermilion County	243 Large	&	-7.8%	-5.1%	>>>>	19 Moderate
Will County	1,637 Very large	&	-5.6%	5.4%	>>>>	143 High
United States	712,200 Very large	&	-7.1%	3.1%	>>>>	64,300 High