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	44,640 Very large	&	1.9%	8.2%	>>>>	4,644 Very High
Champaign Area	813 Very large	&	-3.1%	5.2%	>>>>	79 Moderate
Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area	1,321 Very large	&	4.9%	2.9%	>>>>	144 Very High
Cook County	13,885 Very large	&	1.4%	9.2%	>>>>	1,431 Very High
Decatur Area	545 Very large	&	0.6%	3.8%	>>>>	54 High
DeKalb-Elgin-Aurora Area	3,268 Very large	&	3.5%	10.3%	>>>>	348 Very High
Du Page County	4,794 Very large	&	-6.7%	8.8%	>>>>	437 Very High
Edwardsville Area	1,280 Very large	&	-4.0%	12.4%	>>>>	122 High
Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area	440 Very large	&	9.5%	-0.2%	>>>>	47 High
Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area	662 Very large	&	-2.3%	6.0%	>>>>	69 High
Lake County	4,030 Very large	&	11.8%	11.7%	>>>>	477 Very High
McHenry County	1,278 Very large	&	-2.3%	7.6%	>>>>	126 Very High
Mt Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area	1,069 Very large	&	15.5%	4.4%	>>>>	134 Very High
Northwest Illinois Area	1,420 Very large	&	5.8%	4.3%	>>>>	155 High
Peoria-Bloomington Area	2,332 Very large	&	2.0%	4.5%	>>>>	243 High
Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area	734 Very large	&	2.6%	3.5%	>>>>	77 High
Rock Island-Moline Area	726 Very large	&	0.1%	5.6%	>>>>	75 High
Rockford Area	2,855 Very large	&	0.0%	6.6%	>>>>	291 Very High
Shawnee National Forest Area	160 Large	&	-2.5%	1.1%	>>>>	15 Few
Springfield Area	440 Large	&	4.5%	4.6%	>>>>	45 Moderate
St Louis-Belleville Area	670 Very large	&	3.7%	0.9%	>>>>	70 Moderate
Vermilion County	274 Very large	&	0.0%	-0.5%	>>>>	27 Moderate
Will County	1,627 Very large	&	2.4%	14.9%	>>>>	170 High
United States	732,000 Very large	&	-5.8%	4.0%	>>>>	66,700 High