For the second consecutive year, the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) has released the key findings from its 2022 Career & Salary Survey for the food and beverage industries.
According to Nerida Kelton, executive director at the AIP, the report was developed in partnership with the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) to provide a more detailed breakdown of the people who make up the industry, including their roles, education, experience, career satisfaction, concerns and salaries.
The Australia and New Zealand report aligns with the same offering developed by the IoPP for the rest of the world.
“The 2022 report has some interesting findings and certainly highlights one of the key challenges that the industry has right now, which is upskilling industry professionals in the science and technical side of all materials and pack formats,” Kelton said.
Professor Pierre Pienaar, education director at the AIP, added that not only does the report provide a summary of salary levels for packaging, but also gives a general indication of how well qualified those that are currently working in the packaging industry are.
He said that the data also indicates that although well qualified, they are not qualified in the science, engineering and/or technology in packaging.
“We need to see more of those working in the packaging industry, undertaking courses such as the Certificate in Packaging Technology, Diploma in Packaging Technology, the Fundamentals of Packaging Technology, and the Master of Food & Packaging Innovation degree,” Pienaar explained.
“Attaining these qualifications will go a long way in improving the overall knowledge and skillset in the industry, and to ensure that a technical knowledge void is filled with suitably qualified people.
“We need more packaging knowledge professionals and education helps us get exposure to new ideas and concepts that we can use to appreciate and improve the world around us, and the world within us.”
Key findings of the report include:
Industry/Products
- 46% of the total respondents work in food, followed by 13% in the beverage industry.
- 11% indicated that they work in packaging materials.
Job function
- 30% of the total respondents indicated that they work in packaging technology/design.
- This was followed by marketing/sales at 15.9% and 11.2% in research and development.
What is your highest level of education?
- 46% of the total respondents have a graduate degree and 23% have an undergraduate degree.
- This is a continued indication that the industry is highly educated at degree level qualifications.
Do you have any of the following packaging-related degrees?
- 21% of the respondents have a Diploma in Packaging Design, 10% have completed the Master of Food & Packaging Innovations, 9% have a Certificate in packaging, and 2% with the Fundamentals of Packaging Technology.
- This is a positive sign that more packaging professionals are coming to the AIP to further their education.
Experience
- 58% of the total respondents have more than 20 years’ experience in the packaging industry.
- This is an indication of longevity in the industry and stable careers.
Satisfaction with job security
- 38% of the total respondents are very secure with their job, while 33% are ‘somewhat secure’.
The complete 2022 AIP Career & Salary Survey is available to AIP members and respondents of the survey. An executive summary is available to the wider industry upon request.
The next AIP Salary Survey will be made available to complete in early 2023, and the AIP encourages all of industry to complete the survey to strengthen the results.
