Metal Workers and Plastic Workers

Manufacturing industries employ almost all of these workers.
Workers learn in apprenticeship programs, informally on the job, and in secondary, vocational, or postsecondary schools; many entrants have previously worked as machinists or machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Despite the projected decline in employment, job opportunities should be good, as employers are expected to continue to have difficulty finding qualified workers.

Machinists learn in apprenticeship programs, informally on the job, and in vocational schools or community or technical colleges.
Many entrants previously have worked as machine setters, operators, or tenders.
Job opportunities are expected to be good.

Manufacturing industries employ 10 out of 11 workers.
A few weeks of on-the-job training is sufficient for most workers to learn basic machine operations, but a year or more is required to become a highly skilled operator or setter.
Employment in most machine setter, operator, and tender occupations will decline over the 2004-14 period as a result of productivity improvements and competition for jobs from abroad.

Most tool and die makers train for 4 or 5 years in apprenticeships or postsecondary programs; employers typically recommend apprenticeship training.
Employment is projected to decline because of strong foreign competition and advancements in automation.
Excellent job opportunities are expected; employers in certain parts of the country report difficulty attracting well-trained applicants.

More than 6 out of 10 jobs are found in manufacturing industries.
Training ranges from a few weeks of school or on-the-job training for low-skilled positions to several years of combined school and on-the-job training for highly skilled jobs.
Employment is projected to grow more slowly than average.
Job prospects should be excellent as employers report difficulty finding enough qualified people.

Census Statistics

1999 employment and earnings distribution, year-round full-time workers

Metalworkers and plastic workers, all other

	Percentile earnings distribution
	10th	25th	50th	75th	90th
All workers employment: 430,940 average earnings: $31,000	$15,000	$20,000	$28,000	$37,000	$50,000
Men employment: 315,380 average earnings: $31,000	$17,000	$22,000	$30,000	$40,000	$51,000
Women employment: 115,570 average earnings: $25,000	$13,000	$17,000	$22,000	$29,000	$37,000

source: Bureau of the Census; about this section

2004 Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and event or exposure

Occupation	Fatalities: Event or exposure
Occupation	Total	Tran.	Viol.	Cont.	Falls	Expo.	Fires
Metal workers and plastic workers, all other	8	6	-	-	-	-	-

source: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities Program; about this section