Missouri's plastics industry was surveyed to identify tasks, skills, and knowledges necessary for entry into plastics-related occupations. Respondents returned 129 questionnaires. Additional information was received by telephone interviews with cooperating industries and associations. Of responding firms, St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas had the greatest concentration of plastics firms. Women contributed heavily to the labor force of the plastics industry, and there appeared a greater potential for female employment in the industry than is currently realized by those seeking employment in other fields. As a result of automation, the plastics industry was not heavily dependent on the work force for production. From responding plastics firms, 44 percent indicated they employed fewer than 25 employees. Their greatest manpower need was for machine operators where job experience was not a concern. Most employers preferred pre-training of employees through public schools in the following areas: machine operator, types of plastics and their properties, mold making and maintenance, mathematics, colorants, and molecular chemistry. Most firms gave evidence of their needs to increase man-hours of work within the next year. (Appendixes include the survey and a list of plastics firms.) (YLB)