Plastics & Rubber Manufacturing

Industry Snapshot

Plastics manufacturing accounts for approximately 78% of the industry while rubber manufacturing accounts for nearly 22%.

• Plastics: Packaging materials, film and sheet manufacturing, foam products, plastic bottles and all other plastics product manufacturing
• Rubber: Tire manufacturing and retreading, rubber hoses and belting manufacturing and all other rubber product manufacturing

Additionally, the varied composition of the state's plastics and rubber manufacturing industry gives existing and potential facilities ample room to grow.

Quality Talent for Less

Georgia is known for its high-quality affordable workforce. Wage rates in the state typically fall below the national average, particularly in manufacturing occupations. The state’s plastics and rubber manufacturing wages are no exception.

• Projected growth of 8.4% in plastics and rubber manufacturing industry workers over the next decade compared to -0.8% nationally
• Median hourly earnings of $16.05 compared to $17.53 nationally

Georgia offers an ample supply of skilled employees with a variety of technical backgrounds. In addition to the 25,000 workers directly employed in plastics and rubber manufacturing, there are more than 505,000 Georgians with industry relevant skill-sets.

The People and Support Needed to Succeed

Georgia's high concentration of degree-seeking students and top-tier colleges and universities make the state one of the country’s richest in top-level talent. These institutions also offer companies access to cutting-edge research and development partnerships.

• Since 2014, there has been a 19% increase in the number of graduates skilled in supporting Georgia's plastics and rubber manufacturing operations
• Georgia Tech ranks 2nd for engineering R&D funding nationally and has benefited from a 36% uptick in engineering R&D funding since 2010