Technical capability is becoming one of the most important competitive differentiators across the global Print and Packaging sector.
As manufacturers continue investing in:
- Automation.
- Smart manufacturing.
- Digital workflows.
- Sustainable materials innovation.
- Advanced converting technologies.
the demand for highly skilled technical professionals continues to accelerate globally.
At the same time, the available talent pool is tightening.
According to Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute:
- The US manufacturing sector alone could face a shortage of more than 2.1 million skilled workers by 2030.
- Nearly 77% of manufacturers globally report ongoing difficulty attracting and retaining skilled technical talent.
- Engineering and automation capability remain among the hardest areas to recruit internationally. (deloitte.com, themanufacturinginstitute.org)
Meanwhile, EngineeringUK estimates the UK requires approximately 124,000 engineers and technicians annually simply to meet future workforce demand. (engineeringuk.com)
Within Print and Packaging specifically, businesses are increasingly competing for:
- Multi-skilled engineers.
- Automation specialists.
- Packaging technologists.
- Technical sales professionals.
- Machinery and converting expertise.
The challenge is no longer simply finding technical talent. It is finding individuals capable of supporting increasingly advanced manufacturing environments.
What Industry Leaders Are Prioritising
1. Engineering and Maintenance Capability
Operational uptime remains critical within increasingly automated manufacturing environments.
- Greater reliance on advanced production equipment and automated systems.
- Increased focus on preventative and predictive maintenance capability.
- Reduced tolerance for production downtime and operational disruption.
What this means:
Engineering and maintenance capability is becoming directly linked to productivity, profitability, and customer delivery performance.
2. Automation and Smart Manufacturing Expertise
Manufacturing technology continues to evolve rapidly across global packaging markets.
- Increased adoption of robotics and automated converting systems.
- Expansion of Industry 4.0 technologies and connected manufacturing.
- Greater reliance on data-driven operational environments.
What this means:
Manufacturers increasingly require technically capable professionals who can operate, optimise, and support highly automated production environments.
3. Technical Capability Within Commercial Roles
Commercial roles are becoming increasingly technical.
- Customers expect consultative and solution-led engagement.
- Greater complexity around sustainability, materials, and packaging performance.
- Increased overlap between technical, operational, and commercial functions.
What this means:
Technical sales and customer-facing specialists with manufacturing expertise are becoming increasingly valuable globally.
4. Building Long-Term Technical Talent Pipelines
Many businesses are struggling to develop sustainable technical workforce pipelines internally.
- Ageing engineering populations across industrial manufacturing sectors.
- Increased competition for younger technical talent.
- Ongoing perception challenges around careers within manufacturing industries.
What this means:
Technical workforce planning is becoming a strategic long-term business priority rather than simply a recruitment issue.
5. Retaining Specialist Technical Expertise
Experienced technical professionals remain highly mobile internationally.
- Increased crossover movement between packaging, food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
- Technical professionals commanding increasing compensation premiums globally.
- Counter-offers and retention pressure continuing across specialist engineering disciplines.
What this means:
Retention of technical expertise is becoming just as important as attraction.
What We’re Seeing in the Market
- Increased global demand for:
- Multi-skilled Engineers.
- Automation Specialists.
- Packaging Technologists.
- Maintenance Managers.
- Technical Sales professionals.
- Strongest technical hiring activity currently concentrated across:
- Flexible packaging.
- Labels and specialist converting.
- Sustainable packaging innovation.
- Automation-led manufacturing environments.
- Increased crossover recruitment from:
- FMCG manufacturing.
- Pharmaceuticals.
- Food and beverage manufacturing.
- Advanced industrial manufacturing sectors.
- Packaging manufacturers investing heavily in automation are accelerating technical hiring activity globally.
- Technical professionals with both operational and communication capability continue to command premium compensation internationally.
- More businesses introducing structured technical assessment and competency-led hiring processes.
Practical Takeaways for Hiring Managers
- Review whether your technical workforce strategy aligns with future automation and growth plans.
- Assess succession risks within engineering and technical teams early.
- Ensure technical recruitment processes move quickly within competitive markets.
- Focus on long-term retention of specialist technical expertise.
- Consider broader international talent pools where local availability is limited.
CHI Insight
The shortage of technical talent across Print and Packaging is no longer cyclical. It is becoming a structural challenge driven by automation, ageing workforces, and increasing global competition for specialist expertise.
How This Applies to Your Team
If your business is reviewing technical capability, it may be worth considering:
- Which technical roles present the greatest operational risk if left unfilled.
- Whether your current workforce structure supports future automation and manufacturing plans.
- How competitive your business is within the wider global engineering and manufacturing talent market.
If useful, CHI can provide:
- Global technical talent market mapping across specialist Print and Packaging sectors.
- Benchmarking around engineering and technical compensation trends.
- Insight into competitor hiring activity and international workforce trends.
- Guidance on attracting and retaining specialist technical capability globally.
Want to know more? Get in touch