Australasian Institute of Packaging warns of industry skills gap as experts retire

A recent Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP) survey shows that only 29% of industry respondents hold a Diploma in Packaging Technology. It also finds that 31% of the total respondents have more than 20 years’ experience in the packaging industry — down 10% from 2023.

As experts reach retirement age, the packaging industry needs more skilled workers with relevant degrees, according to Nerida Kelton, executive director at the AIP.

The Australasian 2024 Career and Salary survey includes industry workers’ education, experience, career satisfaction, concerns, and salaries of industry workers.

The survey and results cover the industry across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Many of the respondents have degrees in food science or industrial design, rather than packaging.

Packaging Insights speaks to Kelton about bridging the workforce skill gap with education and more resources. 

The AIP offers many degrees and certifications for skilled workers. These include a Master of Food and Packaging and Innovation degree, a Diploma in Packaging Technology, a Certificate in Packaging, and the Fundamentals of Packaging Technology. 

She says: “Designing packaging truly is a science, so having degrees is very important to ensure that the packaging is fit for purpose, functional, protects the product, and offers the lowest environmental impact.”

Kelton argues that the industry needs packaging technologies to complete the basics of packaging education before building into technical knowledge. Moreover, she explains that regulations and businesses need to help packaging experts by providing access to training and education. “It also benefits the business to have skilled professionals in their teams.”

Packaging skills gap

Kelton stresses the need for specialized education that supports packaging workers' professional development.The survey suggests that many skilled packaging experts are at retirement age. The AIP indicates that the industry supports stable career pathways, but Kelton identifies a skills gap. 

“The change we are seeing is simply retirement and natural attrition. Our packaging technologists stay in the industry for 30 to 40 years on average. Career longevity is remarkable on the packaging side of the industry.”

“What we are seeing right now is the senior packaging technologists retiring, and now we have big skill gaps as the younger ones do not have foundational degrees in packaging.”

Kelton urges companies to provide access to AIP training within personal and professional development budgets and funding. 

“Companies could also commit to paying one staff member each year to enrol in the appropriate packaging degree. The AIP education team can work with companies interested in this model to customize a skillset mapping guide for their teams.”

Encouraging education 

The survey highlights the different careers within the packaging industry. It notes that 31% of the respondents work in packaging technology/design, 25% in research, and 11% in sustainability and environment.

Kelton explains some companies are paying for packaging degrees, which she calls “incredible,” and that these degrees are needed to upskill people in packaging roles. 

She says the AIP offers two scholarship programs to access the Diploma in Packaging Technology, the Certificate in Packaging, and the Fundamentals in Packaging Technology, the demand for which is rising yearly. 

Kelton adds: “The AIP would like to see companies help fund the scholarship program as well, so that we can strengthen the industry’s skills. If each company offered one person access to the scholarship program each year, imagine our skills in the industry.”