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Optimizing Production in a Challenging Labor Market

The packaging and manufacturing industries are navigating a period of significant disruption, driven by persistent workforce challenges, according to a report entitled “2025: Inside the Workforce Gap” from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. From high turnover and an aging labor force to evolving technology and rising difficulty in talent acquisition and retention, companies are being forced to adapt.

Studies from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predict that an additional 3.1 million jobs in maintenance and repair occupations will be added by 2031. This is a disconcerting possibility, as many manufacturers report that attracting and retaining a quality workforce already ranks among their most critical hurdles.

Workforce challenges are placing increased strain on both consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as evidenced by CPG personnel interviewed for the PMMI report, who cited retirements of experienced staff (especially since COVID), high turnover among new hires, and intense competition for technicians, which leave many companies unsure how the labor pool will improve.

Optimizing Production in a Challenging Labor Market

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