The forecast for self-employed people in the Rubber, Plastics, and Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products Manufacturing sector in the UK indicates a gradual decline in the number of work hours over the next five years. Starting from 24.61 million hours in 2024, there is a projected annual decrease of around 1.2% each year, reaching 23.53 million hours by 2028. This suggests a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.1% over the five-year period.

Future trends to watch for include:

The impact of technological advancements on self-employment opportunities in the manufacturing sector.
Potential shifts in regulatory policies affecting the sector, influencing self-employment viability.
Market demand for alternative materials that may impact the volume of work and necessity for self-employed individuals.