National Outlook – 10-Year Projection (2011-2020)

This section provides labour demand and labour supply projections for this occupation over the 2011-2020 period.

Note: The tables, graphs and middle paragraph shown under this section display updated 2011-2020 projection results. The remaining narrative text (2009-2018 projections) will be updated shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The data in the following table are derived from HRSDC’s Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS). COPS uses a variety of models to produce a detailed 10-year labour market projection per broad skill level and per occupation at the national level, which focuses on the trends of labour supply and labour demand over the next ten years.

This occupation (Plastics Processing Machine Operators) is part of a larger occupational group called Machine Operators and Related Workers in Chemical, Plastic and Rubber Processing (NOC 942).

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, employment in this occupation stagnated and the unemployment rate changed very little. It was 11.3% in 2010. The average hourly wage increased at the same rate as the average for other occupations. According to key labour market indicators, the number of job seekers was sufficient to fill the job openings.

Over the 2011-2020 period, an occupation will be in excess demand (a shortage of workers) if the projected number of job openings is significantly greater than the projected number of job seekers. An occupation will be in excess supply (a surplus of workers) if the projected number of job openings is smaller than the projected number of job seekers. For Machine Operators And Related Workers In Chemical, Plastic And Rubber Processing, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 17,182 and 23,848 job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill the job openings.

Based on projections and considering that labour supply and demand in this occupation were balanced, it is expected that supply and demand will continue to be balanced. In other words, the number of job seekers will be sufficient to fill the job openings over the 2011-2020 period. The vast majority of job openings will arise from retirements although the retirement rate will be similar to the average for all occupations. Expansion demand will be very weak, even non-existent, over the 2011-2020 period. However, this will be positive compared to the 2001-2010 period. In fact, over that period, production and employment in the sectors of chemical, plastic and rubber processing were deeply affected by the slowdown of activity in the real estate and automotive sectors in the United States, the rise in production costs and the appreciation of the Canadian dollar. Over the projection period, the resuming of economic activity in Canada and the United States, particularly in the automotive sector, will enable employment in this occupation to grow again. This growth will, however, be limited by the strength of the Canadian dollar, which will hinder exports, and by investments in machines and equipment designed to increase productivity. With regard to labour supply, slightly more than half of job seekers will come directly from the school system. This occupation will also attract a large number of immigrants. In fact, the proportion of immigrants who will choose to work in this occupation is twice as high as the expected proportion for all occupations.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.

In which industry or sector do people in this occupation find jobs in Canada?

This table shows the industry and sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.

What proportion of men and women work in this occupation?

The graph displays the proportion of men and women in this occupation in comparison to the Canadian average across all occupations.

According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), women represented 29% of workers in this occupation, compared to the average of 48% for all occupations.

What percentage of people in this occupation are members of a union?

This occupation (Plastics Processing Machine Operators) is part of a larger group called Machine Operators and Related Workers in Chemical, Plastic and Rubber Processing (NOC 942). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 35%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.