Workforce Development in Flexible Packaging
Policy momentum, border dynamics, and industry action in 2026
The Flexible Packaging industry plays a key role in the American economy. However, ongoing talent shortages, an aging workforce, and rapid technological changes, such as automation and digital printing, are making it harder to grow and stay competitive. If we do not focus on workforce strategies, these challenges could limit our ability to meet the demand for high-quality, eco-friendly packaging.
The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) supports workforce development programs. For example, FPA’s report, “The Flexible Packaging Industry: Addressing Workforce Issues”—created with the National Association of Workforce Boards—offers practical advice on hiring veterans, starting apprenticeships, and recruiting in the sector. Additionally, FPA’s Emerging Leadership Council (ELC) offers internships, mentorship, and outreach videos that showcase flexible packaging as a tech-driven career. While these are good steps, growth requires alignment with new federal policies.
Apprenticeships
Since January 2025, the Trump administration has boosted workforce development as part of its reindustrialization plan, providing direct benefits to manufacturing sectors, including flexible packaging. On April 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed the executive order “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future.”
The order requires the U.S. departments of Labor, Commerce, and Education to actively expand registered apprenticeships (RA), with the goal of adding more than 1 million new active apprentices. It emphasizes removing bureaucratic obstacles, expanding the model to advanced manufacturing and new fields, and prioritizing employer-led training over traditional credentials.
Border Policies
The administration’s border security and immigration enforcement measures have changed the labor supply. Increased interior enforcement and deportations, along with lower net international migration, have removed about 1 million foreign-born workers from the U.S. labor force since early 2025, leading to a noticeable tightening of the manufacturing labor market. The resulting shortages have caused reports of staffing problems, slower production, and rising wages. Instead of increasing employment for native-born workers as initially expected, data show that U.S.-born labor force participation has slightly declined.
For members of the flexible packaging industry, these dynamics increase talent pressures but also align incentives with domestic workforce solutions. Reduced labor inflows limit dependence on external entry-level and mid-skill candidates, prompting greater investment in RA and local hiring. The administration has indicated openness to targeted legal pathways for essential skills, with a focus on American workers, reinforcing the case for industry-led training to develop resilient pipelines. Early signs suggest that proactive RA sponsorships lead to higher retention and faster onboarding, turning policy constraints into catalysts for workforce stability and lower turnover costs.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
In the 119th Congress, lawmakers continue debating WIOA updates, with the statute last fully reauthorized in 2014. Bipartisan interest centers on employer-led training, administrative simplification, and deeper integration of apprenticeships. Recent proposals emphasize directing more local funds to skills development, expanding youth pre-apprenticeship tracks (ages 14–24), permitting virtual delivery, and strengthening sector partnerships.
While agreement exists on the value of apprenticeships and skills alignment, debates persist over funding levels, program consolidation versus dedicated streams, and the balance between federal direction and local control, making reauthorization uncertain. The slim majority in both chambers and the approaching November midterms add urgency—and uncertainty—to the timeline.
Outlook for the Rest of 2026
The current policy environment strongly encourages investing in the manufacturing workforce. To close the talent gap, the flexible packaging industry should align internal training with federal apprenticeships, adopt skills-based hiring practices, and respond to a tightening labor market.
Now is the time to act. FPA urges all members to take these steps with our support to promote innovation and strengthen our industry’s contribution to American prosperity. The time to build tomorrow’s workforce is now.
