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Plastics, Rubber and Cablemaking

Overview

The Plastics, Rubber and Cablemaking industry consists of three groups:

Product types such as tyres manufacture or retreading, conveyor belts and manufacture or repair of cable (electrical power or data cables)
Material types such as composites, general rubber and specialist polymers
Process types such as injection moulding or retreading, rotational moulding extrusion.

The polymer processing sector is in decline as it struggles against cheap imports and the rise of alternate packaging materials. The only sector that is relatively stable is the plastics recycling sector.

What does this industry cover?

Plastics
Plastic car components
Hoses
Fibre optic cable
Synthetic rubber
Tyres

Industry Information

Approximately 35,000 people are employed in the Plastics, Rubber and Cablemaking Industry.

Traineeship and apprenticeship commencements in this industry are limited due to the small size of the workforce.

Employment and wage data for this industry

Apprenticeships Employment Size

This is a small industry for Australian Apprenticeship commencements. In the year to September 2019, commencements were: 220

Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 14/04/2020. AATIS analysis.

Commencements Change

Commencements in the year to September 2019 in this industry have increased, compared with the previous year.

Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 14/04/2020. AATIS analysis.

Apprentice Employment Outcomes

For Australian Apprentice graduates from this industry, employment outcomes are medium to high.

Source: NCVER National Student Outcomes Survey, 2017, unpublished. AATIS analysis.

Industry Employment Size

This is a small sized industry compared with other Australian industries.

Source: Department of Education, Skills and Employment, 2019. AATIS analysis.

Industry Employment Change

Over the past 5 years, change in employment in this industry has decreased.

Source: Department of Education, Skills and Employment, 2019. AATIS analysis.

Industry Wage

The average wage of all employees in this industry is low to medium.

Source: Department of Education, Skills and Employment, 2019. AATIS analysis.

Key Occupations

Production Process Engineers

Plant Technicians

Plastic Fabricators / Fitters

Production Operators

This industry is positioned in the following groups

Industry

Manufacturing & Production

Work Type

Practical & Manual

Ready to see where Plastics, Rubber and Cablemaking can take you?

Career Pathways

The Plastics, Rubber and Cablemaking industry has career pathways from Certificate II through to Diploma. Look at the Job Pathways Chart to see what is of interest.

Job Pathway Charts

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Support Services

Apprenticeship Network Provider Finder

Apprenticeship Network providers can give information about starting an apprenticeship or traineeship, eligibility questions, and they also handle the paperwork and ongoing administration of apprentices and trainees.

Group Training Organisations Finder

Group Training Organisations employ apprentices and trainees and then host them out to employers. These organisations can provide great information about starting a career through Australian Apprenticeships.

Work Type Explorer

Search for Job and Training Descriptions by selecting from seven work type descriptions. For more details, take yourself through the Career Interest Explorer.

Further Research

Information

Industry information is published by peak level associations, government and major employers. Accessing industry association sites, including member lists, is a good way of building up an understanding of an industry. Visiting employer websites and looking for careers or employment menus helps identify how employers recruit and the skills they are recruiting.

Use Google to search for the associations and organisations listed below.

Industry

Chemistry Australia
Australasian Plastics and Rubber Institute Incorporated
Australian Cablemakers Association
The Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Careers Sites

Employment and wage data for this industry

Apprenticeships Employment Size

This is a small industry for Australian Apprenticeship commencements. In the year to September 2018, commencements were: 482

Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2019. AATIS analysis.

Commencements Change

Commencements in the year to September 2018 in this industry have increased, compared with the previous year.

Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 28/03/2019. AATIS analysis.

Apprentice Employment Outcomes

For Australian Apprentice graduates from this industry, employment outcomes are high.

Source: NCVER National Student Outcomes Survey, 2017, unpublished. AATIS analysis.

Industry Employment Size

This is a small sized industry compared with other Australian industries.

Source: Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2018. AATIS analysis.

Industry Employment Change

Over the past 5 years, change in employment in this industry has remained stable.

Source: Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2018. AATIS analysis.

Industry Wage

The average wage of all employees in this industry is medium to high.

Source: Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2018. AATIS analysis.