📦 The Printing & Packaging Industry Is Changing… But We’ve Been Here Before 📦

Written by: Shannon Polaski-Buchholz

Flexo Finders – Nationwide Recruiters in Printing & Packaging

📧 spolaski@flexofinders.net🌐 www.flexofinders.com

If you’ve been in printing and packaging for any length of time, you’ve probably felt it: the industry is shifting again. New technology. Workforce changes. Investments slowing in some segments and skyrocketing in others. Companies are restructuring, consolidating, and tightening budgets. And for many people, that creates uncertainty.

But here’s the truth:

This industry has always evolved — and we’ve always adapted. 🔄

I’ve watched these cycles play out for years. The headlines may change, but the pattern is familiar. And every time, the printing & packaging world finds its footing and moves forward. 🏭💪

Let’s take a quick look back… 👇

🕰 Flashback: Changes We’ve Already Survived

📉 2008 Financial Crisis

Hiring slowed. Investments paused. Plants worried about the future. And yet — the industry returned stronger, modernizing equipment and improving operations.

🌎 Tariffs & Trade Shifts

Material costs rose and sourcing changed. It wasn’t easy, but converters and packaging manufacturers adapted and continued to grow.

😷 COVID-19 & Supply Chain Disruptions

Demand surged in some segments and dropped in others. Lead times for film, paper, adhesives, and ink became unpredictable. Talent was hard to find. But printing and packaging proved essential, and we adapted again.

🤝 Mergers, Acquisitions & Consolidation

Small plants joined larger groups. Leadership structures shifted. Opportunities changed shape, yet innovation continued.

📉 Recessions & Market Slowdowns

Uncertainty is not new. But brands still need labels, packaging, and shipping. Every slowdown has eventually led to another wave of growth.

🚀 So What’s Changing Now?

We’re seeing new trends gain momentum:

✨ Automation & smart manufacturing✨ Digital & hybrid print growth✨ Sustainability & recyclable materials✨ Workforce shifts & retirements✨ Continued consolidation across labels, wide web, carton, and more

These changes aren’t a sign of collapse — they’re a continuation of what this industry has always done:

Evolve to meet the needs of the world. 🌍

💼 Why Companies Shouldn’t Panic

Markets adjust. Demand returns. Great talent still wants stability and growth. Innovation creates opportunity — not competition.

👷 Why Candidates Shouldn’t Panic

Your skills are still needed. Flexibility and learning create new opportunities. Every era introduces new in-demand roles.

This industry has never been defined by one moment. It has been defined by:

Resilience. Craftsmanship. Innovation. 🧠🔧

🗣 A Message From a Recruiter Who’s Seen It Firsthand

I’ve supported companies and talent through every one of these cycles — slowdowns, hiring booms, restructures, expansions. And here’s what I know with certainty:

Change doesn’t mean the end of opportunity. It often means the beginning of a better one. 🌟

Now is the time to:

🔧 Cross-train and upskill🖨 Embrace new technology🤝 Strengthen culture & retention🎯 Bring new talent into the industry🏗 Build smarter, more stable teams

📦 We’re Still Printing. We’re Still Packaging. And We’re Still Moving Forward.

Whether you’re a press operator, a maintenance technician, a production leader, or running multiple plants — you are part of an industry that has weathered storms before and will do it again.

The next chapter isn’t something to fear — it’s something to prepare for. And we’ll navigate it together.

—