The Plastics and rubber products manufacturing industry is a subsector of the Manufacturing sector, as classified under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The industry has experienced a decline in its Michigan workforce in recent years, reflecting similar employment patterns observed across multiple other manufacturing subsectors. This subsector typically consists of industries that are involved in the production of converting plastics and raw rubber into goods. Some of the manufacturing processes can include extruding, compacting, inspecting, sorting, molding, and assembling the materials.
Employment and Wages
In June 2025, the
Plastics and rubber products manufacturing subsector supported approximately 37,900 employees, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These roles accounted for roughly 0.8 percent of all private employment in Michigan, compared to the industry’s 0.5 percent share on a national level. Over a 12-month span ending in June 2025, the subsector’s Michigan workforce declined by an estimated 2,400 jobs, representing an annual decrease of 5.9 percent. The industry’s hourly median wage in Michigan totaled $20.74, which is approximately 8.8 percent below the national average of $22.73.
Number of Businesses
As of June 2025,
Plastics and rubber products manufacturing comprised of roughly 810 private establishments. About 640 of these were small establishments with fewer than 50 employees, employing approximately 4,800 workers, or 12.7 percent of the total industry employment. Medium-sized firms (defined as those with 50 to 499 workers) accounted for the largest percentage of workforce in the subsector (69.4 percent), with 170 establishments and employing around 26,300 workers. There were only six large firms containing 500 or more employees, but they employed about 6,800 workers, representing a 17.9 percent share.
Top Detailed Sectors in with the Most Employees as of June 2025
- Plastics product manufacturing (33,100 jobs)
- Rubber product manufacturing (4,800 jobs)
Most Prevalent Occupations with the Most Workers in 2024
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators (6,500 workers, median hourly wage: $18.33)
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (5,600 workers, median hourly wage: $17.63)
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (1,900 workers, median hourly wage: $18.85)
Industry Outlook
Employment in Michigan’s Plastics and rubber products manufacturing industry is projected to decrease by 2.9 percent from 2022 to 2023, with an estimated net loss of 1,160 workers. This translates to an average annual decrease of 0.3 percent, matching the trend of the broader manufacturing sector, but falling below the statewide industry average, which is expected to grow by 0.1 percent annually. Recent trends indicate that employment in the industry has declined faster than projected, showcasing challenges in maintaining workforce numbers.
Source: 2022-2032 Michigan Long-Term Employment Projections, Michigan Center for Data and Analytics; Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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