Plastics product manufacturing
NAICS Code: 326100
BLS projects Plastics product manufacturing to grow +4.4% through 2034 - 2.0 points faster than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 68% of them. Its trajectory is close to the typical U.S. industry.
Where Plastics product manufacturing sits among all industries
Projected 2024-2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.
Where Plastics product manufacturing sits by projected growth
Projected employment change across tracked industries
4.4% Top 32% higher than 68% of 291 industries
Industries, banded by projected growth
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more industries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source BLS Employment Projections · 2026-05-15
Steady-state read
Signature: 36.9% mean employer AI exposure across 285 tracked public companies .
Employment change is near the industry median, yet the sector has a large tracked public-company set - the grade mix below is the more distinctive signal on this page.
NAICS 326100 · 592,500 workers (2024, ×1k) · source BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. Employer AI grades are occupation-weighted scores from our SEC cohort, not automation predictions for every establishment in Plastics product manufacturing.
Public companies in this NAICS sector
NAICS sector 31-32 bucket (includes sibling industries). 285 companies scored · mean AI exposure 36.9%.
| Company | AI grade |
|---|---|
| Abbott Laboratories | B |
| AbbVie Inc. | B |
| Abivax S.A. | B |
| Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc | B |
| Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp | B |
| Adma Biologics, Inc. | B |
| Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | B |
| Albemarle Corp | B |
Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure from our employer corpus - not a claim that every establishment in Plastics product manufacturing shares the same risk. Source: SEC company metadata + O*NET-weighted scores · as of 2026-05-15.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Plastics product manufacturing (NAICS 326100) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Telecommunications | 621,300 | -8.5% |
| Office administrative services | 619,200 | +5.9% |
| Direct health and medical insurance carriers | 611,100 | +4.6% |
| Postal service | 605,700 | -4.5% |
| Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers | 594,100 | +3.0% |
| Plastics product manufacturing | 592,500 | +4.4% |
Peers are selected by similarity in 2024 employment. Figures in thousands. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work in Plastics product manufacturing?
As of 2024, the Plastics product manufacturing industry employs approximately 592,500 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Plastics product manufacturing growing or declining?
The Plastics product manufacturing industry is projected to grow by 4.4% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of +26,300 jobs over the decade.
Which public companies sit near Plastics product manufacturing?
285 tracked public companies in NAICS sector 31-32 (sibling industries included). Sample names include Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie Inc., Abivax S.A.. Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure scores, not company-specific automation forecasts.
How will AI affect the Plastics product manufacturing industry?
Among 285 tracked public companies tied to this industry's sector, the mean occupation-weighted AI exposure score is 36.9% (most common grade B). That is a staffing-pattern signal from our employer corpus, not a forecast for every firm in Plastics product manufacturing. Pair it with occupation-level AI exposure scores for role-specific risk.
Where to look next
What to do with this
Use Plastics product manufacturing's employment and exposure numbers above to look up individual employers and occupations, not just the industry aggregate.
- See how public employers in this and other industries rank nationwide by AI displacement risk. Employer AI risk rankings
- Browse individual occupations to see exposure and wage detail below the industry level. Browse all occupations
- Compare this industry's outlook against a specific occupation or employer using the interactive tool. Workforce comparison tool
Industry-level figures are aggregates; individual employer and occupation outcomes vary.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034; SEC employer metadata for AI grades Employment figures in thousands. Employer grades are occupation-weighted exposure scores, not firm automation forecasts