Printing industry

This research report presents the findings of the OSKA [1] applied study on the printing industry sector. The aim of the study was to identify how employment, labour demand and skill needs in the sector’s core occupations are expected to evolve over the next decade, and to formulate recommendations [2] on how to better respond to changing labour market needs. To achieve this objective, both quantitative and qualitative research methods were applied. The analysis draws on sectoral statistics, previous studies conducted in Estonia and internationally, as well as policy documents and development strategies. The labour demand forecast, identified bottlenecks and proposed recommendations were discussed and validated with the sectoral expert panel.

Core occupations

In the Estonian Classification of Economic Activities (EMTAK [3]), the printing industry falls under manufacturing division C18 “Printing and reproduction of recorded media”. However, the OSKA study encompasses not only employees working within the printing industry itself, but also representatives of printing-related occupations across all sectors of the economy. The following occupations are defined as core occupations(EMTAK [4]) in the study: production supervisor, prepress technician, printer and finishing equipment operator. In 2025, nearly 1,700 people were employed in these core occupations as their main job.

Forecast

Over the next decade, employment in the printing industry is expected to decline. This trend is primarily driven by the growing share of digital printing, increasing automation and the wider adoption of artificial intelligence. According to the forecast, the number of prepress technicians and finishing equipment operators will decrease by 15%, while the number of printers will decline by 10%; the number of production supervisors is expected to remain stable. Although total employment is projected to decrease by approximately 200 employees, replacement demand resulting from retirements will require around 370 workers to be replaced. Altogether, the printing industry is expected to require approximately 160 new employees over the next ten years.

OSKA employment forecast for the printing industry

Skills needs

Technological development, combined with automation and the implementation of artificial intelligence, is shifting the focus from mechanical machine setup towards digital process management and data-driven system administration. Key competencies increasingly include proficiency in digital production systems, knowledge of materials and recyclability, and the documentation of sustainability indicators such as CO₂ accounting and supply chain traceability. EU regulations (PPWR, EUDR, ESPR) [5] require employees to acquire new knowledge related to sustainable packaging design and compliance with digital product passport requirements. Particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises, the roles of prepress technician and digital printer are converging into a single occupation, where one employee is expected to manage the entire production chain from file preparation to the finished printed product.

Education and training provision

The main provider of vocational education in the field is Tallinn School of Technology (formerly Tallinn Polytechnic School), where a new curriculum in visual media technology was launched in 2025 at upper secondary vocational level. Within this programme, students may specialise in print media, covering printing, prepress and finishing technologies. Based on current completion and dropout trends, more than 100 graduates in printing technology are expected to enter the labour market over the next decade. No formal vocational education is currently available for finishing equipment operators, and training is primarily company-based. Continuing and retraining activities also largely take place within companies, especially in connection with the introduction of new technologies or the acquisition of specific certifications.

Comparison of labour demand and training supply

At first glance, projected labour demand and the number of graduates entering the labour market appear to be balanced; however, significant structural mismatches remain. Tallinn School of Technology contributes approximately ten graduates per year, mainly entering prepress and printer occupations. At the same time, employers report a particularly strong demand for offset printers, while the school’s current training capacity in this area remains limited. Labour turnover is also creating challenges in the occupation of finishing equipment operator, where lower wage levels and the nature of the work encourage movement to other sectors.

Bottlenecks and recommendations

The study highlights two major bottlenecks in sector-specific vocational education and training. First, occupations in the printing industry have low visibility among young people, while access to education is regionally concentrated. It is therefore important to expand promotional activities for the sector, including the “Come & Print” campaign, beyond Tallinn and to strengthen cooperation with educational institutions in other regions to improve access to student accommodation during internships. Second, the ageing workforce of offset printers and insufficient replacement demand pose a significant challenge. Educational institutions currently lack the resources to acquire offset printing presses, limiting opportunities for practical training. The study therefore recommends establishing a cooperation model between companies and Tallinn School of Technology, coordinated by the Estonian Printing and Packaging Industry Association, to enable the use of companies’ technological infrastructure for practical offset printer training.

Overall, employment demand in the printing industry is expected to decline moderately over the coming decade, although new employees will still be needed to replace retiring workers. Core occupations are generally well covered by existing education opportunities; however, training provision should be further aligned with labour market needs, particularly regarding offset printer training and improving access to studies for learners outside Tallinn.