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 (Labourers in Rubber and Plastic Products Manufacturing) is part of a larger occupational group called Labourers in Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities (NOC 961).

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, employment in this occupation experienced a significant drop while the unemployment rate, one of the highest among the 140 occupations, increased more quickly than the average to 21.0% in 2010. The average hourly wage for this occupation, one of the lowest among the 140 occupations, increased at the same rate as the wage for other occupations. According to key labour market indicators, the number of job seekers was more than sufficient to fill the job openings in this occupation.

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 Labourers In Processing, Manufacturing And Utilities, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 48,364 and 55,184 job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill the job openings.

Based on projections and considering the labour surplus in this occupation, it is expected that labour supply will remain greater than demand. In other words, the number of job seekers will be greater than the number of job openings over the 2011-2020 period. The majority of job openings will result from retirements despite a retirement rate similar to that for all occupations. The number of job openings arising from economic growth will be clearly greater than was experienced over the 2001-2010 period. Workers in this occupation are scattered throughout the various manufacturing sectors. The outlook in most of these sectors is expected to be very modest over the projection period as a result of factors such as low-cost foreign competitors and a shift to more capital-intensive production. Job seekers will come from both the school system and immigration. Immigrants will represent a much larger proportion of job seekers in this occupation than in others. This occupation is one of the most popular among new immigrants entering the Canadian labour market. Many workers consider their jobs as labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities as temporary. In other words, these workers tend to leave these jobs for other occupations that require a higher level of skill or that better match their career goals. Over the coming years, a very large number of workers will leave this occupation to work in other occupations. Despite all these departures, there will still be a surplus of workers in this occupation over the 2011-2020 period.

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 47% 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 (Labourers in Rubber and Plastic Products Manufacturing) is part of a larger group called Labourers in Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities (NOC 961). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 38%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.