“How is the Plastic Manufacturing Job Market?” remains the primary question I am asked by candidates looking for positions in the Plastics Industry.  In June, 2009, I took a stab at answering this question but since over three months have elapsed since I last answered this question, I thought it might be time to respond to “How is the Plastic Manufacturing Job Market?” question again.

In my role as a Third Party Recruiter (Headhunter) to the Plastics Industry, I have been talking to many plastic manufacturing companies about their current hiring/downsizing plans.  The good news is that most of the companies report they have completed their downsizing.  The bad news is that the same companies do not plan to do any hiring for three to six months because they are still waiting to see where the economy is heading. 

Unfortunately, many of the financial experts on CNBC believe that the economic recovery is going to be a “jobless recovery”.  I fail to see how we can have a “jobless recovery” because if the American consumer is setting on his or her wallet, where is the recovery going to come from?  I don’t see how selling hamburgers and life insurance policies to each other is going to take us out of this recession/depression.  Having said that, I have seen hiring in the Plastics Industry picking up ever so slightly.  The hiring is due to fill key positions where the individual has retired, died or left the company for personal reasons.  I have also seen some back-filling of positions when individuals were downsized (sometimes corporate speak of cleaning out deadwood) and the company finds that they need someone in the position.

Overall, I believe the job market is getting better but it is still probably to early to start dancing in the street.