June 29, 2026
Over the past several months, the International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) has been analyzing workforce trends across the corrugated industry through our inaugural Workforce Index Survey. The goal is simple: to better understand hiring patterns, retention, and the evolving needs of our workforce.
While the data provides valuable direction, it also reinforces something many of us already know: Hiring challenges are not new, and they are not isolated. Companies continue to navigate a competitive labor market, evolving skill expectations, and the need to fill a wide range of roles across operations and business functions.
Data alone doesn’t tell the full story. What isn’t fully captured when we measure and diagnose workforce needs across the industry is the gap in awareness among students and emerging talent as they face career decisions.
Many students are not actively choosing between corrugated and another industry; they simply don’t know this industry exists. Rather than a conflict of choice, our industry has the advantage of introducing students to a world they haven’t yet discovered—one where they are consistently energized by innovation and the prospect of a stable, meaningful career.
Closing this gap requires more than clear job descriptions and targeted posts on LinkedIn. It requires earlier and more intentional engagement. That’s where ICPF’s work continues to evolve.
In 2026, we are continuing to prioritize engagement with students across programs such as SkillsUSA and our partnership with The Packaging School’s Certificate of Mastery in Packaging Management (CMPM) program. These opportunities put students at the center of our mission and facilitate intentional engagement at pivotal stages of their career development journey. Through SkillsUSA, we are reaching students at a critical point in their decision-making process by introducing careers in corrugated through classroom engagement, speaker series, and direct outreach at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference. Our CMPM scholarship program connects college students pursuing degrees beyond traditional packaging disciplines with real-world industry applications and direct exposure to corrugated packaging professionals. And through ICPF’s mentorship program, Corrugated Connections, we are creating meaningful connections between students and early career professionals that help build a network future industry members can rely on.
These efforts are designed to complement, not replace, company-level recruitment. They help ensure that when students begin exploring careers, the corrugated industry is part of the conversation.
As we continue to build on insights from the Workforce Index Survey, one thing is clear: Strengthening the talent pipeline isn’t just about improving how we hire. It’s about expanding who knows about our industry in the first place.
For AICC members, that presents a meaningful opportunity. Whether through plant tours, internships, classroom engagement, or mentorship, early exposure plays a critical role in shaping career decisions.
The more proactive and informed we are as an industry today, the stronger our workforce will be tomorrow.
Caitlin Salaverria is president of ICPF.
