Job prospects Plastic Extruder Operator in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "plastic extruder operator" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Plastics processing machine operators (NOC 94111) in Ontario for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Mainly employed in the plastic product manufacturing industry

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Plastic products have strong linkages to the construction and motor vehicle manufacturing industries:
• Construction activity is expected to be favourable across Ontario over the forecast period
• The province's large automotive sector will support demand for plastic goods
• Technological advancements, such as 3D printing technology for injection molding, robotics and automated plastic processing machines, may alter the skill requirements of these operators

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Experience in a particular area of plastic manufacturing such as injection moulds, extrusion moulds or mixing chemicals may be required.

Here are some key facts about Plastics processing machine operators in Ontario:

• Approximately 11,300 people work in this occupation.
• Plastics processing machine operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Plastics and rubber products manufacturing (NAICS 326): 61%
  • Motor vehicle, body, trailer and parts manufacturing (NAICS 3361-3363): 6%
  • Machinery manufacturing (NAICS 333): 5%
• 65% of plastics processing machine operators work all year, while 35% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of plastics processing machine operators are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 70% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 30% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 21% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 45% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 6% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 16% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 8% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "plastic extruder operator" Plastics processing machine operators (NOC 94111) or across Canada.

Learn more