Job market information
Finding out about polymers
The polymer industry is part of the broader science‐based sector represented by Cogent Sector Skills Council, which also includes chemicals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and pharmaceuticals industries. Most goods used by people in their homes, at work and in their everyday activities are products derived from the chemical, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries. The combined industries represent nearly half a million people in the UK and are of huge economic and strategic importance to the UK.
The polymer industry comprises four discrete processing areas: plastics processing; rubber processing; polymer composites processing; and sign making. The industry is considered to be dynamic, as it is subject to opportunities arising from technological change, development of new materials and processing technology. Additionally, the development of new products and changes respond to consumer requirements.
The industry requires innovators, technologists, designers and highly‐skilled processing technicians to remain at the forefront of developments and changes in the world demand for more versatile, lightweight, low‐cost and energy‐saving products and applications.
Key facts:
- The industry is very sensitive to commodity and energy prices, and waste policy.
- Total employment in the polymers industry has decreased since 1998.
- 64% of research and development in the industry is funded by the industry itself.
- There has been an overall increase in research and development spending since 1998.
- Skills gaps exist at higher levels and people are needed with good knowledge of competitive business techniques.
- New technologies have enabled the industry to remain competitive, despite the growing competition from foreign markets.
- The number of polymer enterprises has declined in the last 10 years.
- The UK is one of the top five plastics processing countries in the European Union.
- The UK rubber industry is dominated by a small number of large firms, whereas plastics is characterised by small to medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in niche markets.
Jobs in the industry are divided into:
- Plastics – lab assistant, product manager, quality control inspector, tool maker, R&D manager, process technician, polymer technician, plant facilities manager
- Sign making – paint sprayer, sign maker/writer, estimator, graphic designer, vinyl applicator, project planner, contract manager, site surveyor.
Entry and progression
There are a range of career opportunities in the industry, but there is a need for highly skilled people. There are many ways into the industry:
- Straight from school or college and progress through operator and technician roles onwards to craftsperson status
- Through apprenticeships such as the apprenticeship in process technology, polymer processing or sign making
- Vocational qualifications such as process technology or engineering
- Higher education courses that have been designed to equip graduates with the practical and hands‐on knowledge
- In‐house training and development, of which there is a strong tradition in the sector.
The National Skills Academies for the process and nuclear industries will accredit in‐house training to ensure quality and consistency as well as help with transferability within and across the sector.
The Gold Standard, a national framework for continuous professional development, sets out the skills required in key job roles in the process industries by mapping competencies across each job.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
286,000 |
|---|
| Number of UK employers: |
over 7,500 |
|---|
| Gender: |
79% male |
21% female |
|---|
| Ethnicity: |
94% white |
6% non‐white |
|---|
| Age: |
10% of workforce is 16‐24 years |
|---|
| 22% 25‐34 years |
| 27% 35‐44 years |
| 25% 45‐54 years |
| 16% is 55 years and over |
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey (January‐December), 2006.]
Employment trends and future prospects
Employment across the whole sector is projected to continue to fall to 2017, but at a slower rate than in previous years. Total employment in the industry has declined by 21% in the last 9 years. In 2006, the plastics industry accounted for 90% of polymer industry employment which was 200,000 employees (this is the most up‐to‐date information available). There have been significant decreases in employment in the rubber sub‐industry.
Over 7,500 companies operate within the polymer industry employing some 286,000 employees. This figure rises to approximately 400,000 employees when secondary operations are taken into consideration.
Over the long term, firms are moving more domestic production abroad to lower‐cost producers in Asia, the US and Eastern Europe. The outlook for rubber manufacturers remains uncertain, as recent turbulence on commodity markets may have significant effects in the medium to long term.
In the future, there will be a shift in the UK market to locally produced products in small quantities of higher quality. It is expected that research and development of biodegradable products will increase, because of the moves towards the greener alternatives and environmentally‐friendly products. It is predicted that there will be more opportunities in this field in the future.
Skill requirements and shortages
- There is a 36% oversupply of people qualified at S/NVQ level 1 and below compared to the number of jobs.
- There is a 28% under supply of people qualified to S/NVQ level 2 and 3 compared to the proportion of jobs at those levels.
- The top four skills that need improving or updating according to employers are job‐specific practical or technical skills, problem solving, general IT user skills and team working.
The industry has to become lean and efficient in both manufacturing and administration. It also needs to be innovative with both design and materials and work with winning markets, customers and products in the future.
Occupational trends
Across the sector there is high demand for skilled managers, engineers and technicians, scientists, process operatives and professionals. The polymers industry will require innovators, technologists, designers and highly‐skilled processing technicians to remain at the forefront of developments and changes in the demand for more versatile, lightweight, low‐cost and energy‐saving products and applications.
Polymers industry occupational distribution
| Managers and Senior Officials |
20% |
|---|
| Professional Occupations |
4% |
|---|
| Associate Professional and Technical |
9% |
|---|
| Administrative and Secretarial |
8% |
|---|
| Skilled Trades Occupations |
15% |
|---|
| Sales and Customer Service Occupations |
2% |
|---|
| Process, Plant and Machine Operatives |
35% |
|---|
| Elementary Occupations |
7% |
|---|
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey (January‐December), 2006.]
National and regional data
Across Great Britain, there are an estimated 179,200 people working in polymers manufacturing and processing. The largest number of employees is located in:
- North West
- East Midlands
- West Midlands
- East of England
- South East
There are significant clusters of polymer businesses in North Yorkshire, the Humberside, the Isle of Wight, Central Scotland, and around Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. Businesses are spread across the North West and West Midlands regions.
Salary levels
The UK’s median weekly earnings for those in the manufacture of rubber and plastic products is £318.30. Mean weekly salary ranges:
- Rubber process operatives £324.40
- Plastics process operatives £310.70
A starting salary as a Polymer Technician apprentice or Polymer Technologist may be around £9,000 a year, and once qualified a basic starting salary of £14,000 may be earned. Senior technicians may earn up to £30,000 a year and a specialist Technologist could earn over £35,000 a year.
For more information on pay scales go to the Cogent job roles 
.
Career paths
Careers in the industry are usually well‐paid and long‐term, with opportunities throughout the UK and often worldwide too. For further information:
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using Cogent AACS LMI report (June 2010)
