Are There Any Good Plastic Injection Molding Jobs?

That's a good question! Because of all the talk about jobs going to Asia you might wonder if there really are any good plastic injection molding jobs left. The good news is yes, there are. The bad news is that you must be more qualified than ever to get one.

Because so many plastic injection molding jobs have vanished when the company went out of business, the total amount of jobs has shrunk. Duh! This isn't as dumb as it might appear though. There is still a huge amount of work in molding and moldmaking, it is just more competitive. Fewer companies are trying for the same work, and more workers are looking for the same jobs.

What about all the moldmakers who will be retiring?

I have seen exactly 3 apprentices in the last 10 years. This is not the case in other parts of the world, for sure. Walk into almost any larger US moldmaker and you will see a lot of 50-60 year old moldmakers. There are a lot of younger CNC machinists, but not many moldmakers. This is partly due to the fact that it has been so difficult just to keep busy, not to mention take on an apprentice.

Yet, if you can get hired by one of the remaining companies and learn the moldmaking trade, you will enjoy a great career with a lot of relative job security. It is the small job shop that has a harder time keeping apprentices. Those companies who embrace the global economy have enjoyed an increase in work, though it is much different than in the not-so-distant past.

Even companies who have the bulk of their molds built in China have a lot of work in house. I've only seen a few Chinese molds that did not need extensive grooming to be operable. Often the simple things are overlooked and need to be changed in house. Not to mention the lack of proper moldmaking procedure in many molds. It's a bit like the mold is close, but not quite there, and somebody needs to make it work right.

A quick look in a moldmaking magazine or an job service directory will bear the need for skilled moldmakers out. Plus, many shops don't advertise, but are always on the lookout for skilled help, which is becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Are there jobs in plastic injection molding?

It is much the same for injection molders as moldmakers: there is still a lot of work, but many, many custom molders are no longer in business. This leaves the survivors competing more intensely. Virtually all of these molders face a shortage of skilled techs and engineers.

Look in the classified section of the molding journals, there are always skilled jobs available. Many of today's youth avoid manufacturing in favor of financial services because that seems to be where you can make a lot of easy money. This creates a deep shortage of engineers and technicians. There are jobs in Project Management, Molding Managers, Mainenance Mechanics, Process Engineers, Plastics Process Technicians, Quality Engineers, and on and on.

A good place to find job postings is on the web site below. They have current listings in every field related to plastic injection molding.

Where are good schools for plastics?

Besides the old school method of learning on the job, there are many excellent schools for learning plastics engineering. One good source of information is the edref website. You can find schools in your area for all the disciplines in the plastics industry. Plastic injection molding engineering jobs are always in demand and in short supply.

What about the job interview?

Once you find the job you hope to land, you are going to have to win against some pretty strong competition at times. Many times there are several other highly qualified applicants, maybe even 100 or even more. An engineering friend of mine landed a job that had been "narrowed down" to 534 other people. You can increase your chances by reading this job interview manual. It is full of great, professional advice, and as a benefit, you will get some free bonuses.