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.
Plastics product manufacturing has projected growth of 4.4%. Distribution: 21 industries at -15--10%; 23 industries at -10--5%; 41 industries at -5-0%; 128 industries at 0-5%; 51 industries at 5-10%; 14 industries at 10-15%; 4 industries at 15-20%; 3 industries at 20-25%; 6 industries at 25-30%.
Industry Insight
The Plastics product manufacturing industry is classified under NAICS code 326100 and employed approximately 592,500 workers in 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program. By 2034, BLS projects employment will reach 618,800 - a net change of +26,300 jobs over the decade. That works out to a +4.4% projected growth rate, a measured but positive trajectory.
NAICS 326100 sits within a broader sector ecosystem whose health depends on demographic trends, technology adoption curves, and policy decisions on immigration, tax incentives, and labor regulation. The occupation mix inside Plastics product manufacturing determines how AI displacement risk filters down to individual workers, industries dominated by clerical and routine analytical roles face the steepest exposure, while those anchored in physical skill, patient care, or creative judgment retain stronger resilience.
Use this industry profile alongside our occupation rankings and employer AI risk grades to build a full picture. The BLS publishes detailed wage and employment figures for each sector in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections programs. The BLS Employment Projections methodology blends input-output modeling, productivity forecasts, and occupational staffing patterns, so estimates are directional rather than precise, and industry-level outcomes depend heavily on macroeconomic conditions that evolve between projection cycles.
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.
What jobs are in the Plastics product manufacturing industry?
The Plastics product manufacturing industry (NAICS 326100) employs workers across a range of occupations. Browse the full occupations directory to see AI exposure scores, wage data, and growth projections for specific roles common in this industry.
How will AI affect the Plastics product manufacturing industry?
AI impact on the Plastics product manufacturing industry depends on the specific occupation mix. Industries with more routine data processing and clerical roles tend to have higher AI displacement risk, while those requiring physical labor, complex judgment, or creative work face lower risk. View occupation-level AI exposure scores for detailed analysis.
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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Employment figures in thousands. Data reflects projected changes over the 2024–2034 decade