A new report released by PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, reveals that most consumer-packaged goods companies (95 percent) are struggling to hire skilled operators and technicians.

Nearly 60 percent of those surveyed expect hiring issues to become “somewhat or more demanding in the future,” according to the association’s research report, “2025 Inside the Workforce Gap.”

Despite current challenges, many see automation as a solution to workplace issues and plan to concentrate its use on various operations. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can bridge the workforce gap by modernizing equipment design to be easier to troubleshot, providing better digital training tools.

“The CPG firms interviewed said the labor problem is exacerbated by the retirement of experienced staff, high turnover among new hires, and intense competition for technicians, leaving many companies unsure how the labor pool will improve,” states Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market development at PMMI.

Access the report and additional findings on PMMI’s website.