PA Plastics SourceNet Symposium
David L. Passmore, BS, MEd, PhD
Professional Associate, Management Development Programs and Services, The Pennsylvania State University
David Passmore is professor of education in the Workforce Education and Development Program at The Pennsylvania State University. He also is professor of operations research in the dual degree, intercollege Operations Research Program, director of the Institute for Research in Training and Development, and a professional associate in Management Development Programs and Services. He is an adjoint graduate faculty member in Human Resource Development and Technology for the College of Business and Technology at The University of Texas at Tyler.
Abstract
Employment and Competitiveness of the Pennsylvania Plastics Industry
Information is presented about the future employment and competitive position of the Pennsylvania plastics manufacturing industry. This information was derived from economic modeling, forecasting, and benchmarking research conducted by The Pennsylvania State University Workforce Education and Development Initiative. Between 2004 and 2017, Pennsylvania is forecast to lose employment and experience declining numbers of job openings in occupations in its plastics manufacturing industry as a result of manufacturing productivity increases and in spite of enjoying advantages relative to the entire U.S. in delivered prices and in costs of production (except fuel). The industry is driven by exports and by business-to-business sales, rather than by sales to Pennsylvania households and government. Disruptions of the export position of Pennsylvania plastics manufacturing or in increasing competition in Pennsylvania markets for Pennsylvania-manufactured plastics products would further degrade industry and occupational employment in the Pennsylvania plastics manufacturing industry.