January 2022
Featured in this insight: Chemicals, Manufacturing, engineering & industrial
A third of plastics firms report scaling back production in response to staff shortages due to Covid-19: According to a British Plastics Federation (BPF) members survey, almost a third of plastics firms have had to reduce production levels as a result of staff absences because of Covid-19. The BPF survey, conducted in January 2022 also highlighted that more than three-quarters of plastics firms (78%) currently have staff absences due to the virus, with 8% of members' workforces unable to work.
The BPF research is conducted twice a year, and polls a range of businesses across the plastics supply chain. The first survey of the year for 2022 was conducted between the 5th and 14th of January.
Currently, a quarter of plastics firms (24%) have at least 10% of staff absent from work, according to the findings.
Supply barriers
The industry is also facing difficulties with supply shortages. Six in ten respondents polled in January 2022 said they were still experiencing issues sourcing polymers, however, the situation has improved since April 2021, when 97% were facing difficulties.
Recruiting new staff is also proving to be a challenge for plastics companies, found the survey, with 80% saying they are experiencing difficulty, particularly with recruiting shop floor workers. Two-fifths of companies said they expect to see profit margins for the year ahead stay the same, while more than a third (35%) expect them to fall.
When asked about Brexit, just 6% report that it has had a positive impact on their business.
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