Rubber Goods Production Workers

Overall employment in the rubber industry has been declining. Through 2029, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that opportunities for crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders and for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders will shrink by 6 and 5 percent, respectively. Employment is expected to decline by 2 percent for hand cutters and trimmers; and by 1 percent for furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders during this same time span. Meanwhile, employment for tire builders will remain flat through 2029. Increasing automation in manufacturing processes and technological advances that make some rubber goods better and longer-lasting have sharply reduced the number of rubber goods production jobs that are available. Those with advanced training, especially knowledge of computer systems that are used to operate high-tech manufacturing equipment, will have the best job prospects.