NAICS 3231

Printing & Related Support Activities

NAICS 3231: Printing and related support activities. Commercial printing, digital printing, packaging, bindery, and prepress services.

Published by VantaInsights Research·Methodology·Data Sources· AI-drafted
Built on data from Census Bureau CBP Bureau of Labor Statistics Federal Reserve FRED SEC EDGAR

Industry at a Glance

Sector-wide aggregates across all businesses classified under NAICS 3231 (2017 classification frame). For specific sub-industries within this sector, see the individual reports below.

Employment
386K
US Census CBP · 2023 · NAICS 2017
Establishments
22K
US Census CBP · 2023 · NAICS 2017
Annual Payroll
$22.2B
US Census CBP · 2023 · NAICS 2017
Avg Annual Wage
$57,397
Derived from US Census CBP · 2023 · NAICS 2017
Market Size
$90.9B
US Census Economic Census · 2022 · NAICS 2017

Industry Overview

Printing and related support activities (NAICS 3231) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in printing on various substrates, such as paper, textiles, and plastic, using techniques including offset, flexographic, digital, and screen printing. This industry group also includes support services such as prepress activities, platemaking, and bindery work that prepare materials for final printing production. The industry serves as a critical infrastructure component for publishing, packaging, advertising, and commercial communications, translating digital and analog content into physical marketing and informational materials that support numerous downstream industries and consumer touchpoints.

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Industry Trends

01

Digital printing technology adoption is accelerating as shorter print runs and personalization demands increase, with inkjet and laser printing systems capturing market share from traditional offset presses in commercial and packaging applications.

VOC

Sustainability and environmental compliance pressures are driving adoption of eco-friendly inks, water-based processes, and waste reduction initiatives as brands emphasize sustainability and regulations tighten around VOC emissions and chemical use.

03

Packaging printing growth outpaces traditional commercial printing due to e-commerce expansion and consumer demand for branded, customized packaging, with flexible packaging and corrugated printing experiencing particular strength.

04

Integration of print with digital marketing channels is increasing, with printers adding variable data printing, cross-media campaign capabilities, and data analytics services to support integrated marketing strategies.

05

Workforce shortage and aging equipment challenges are prompting investments in automation, color management systems, and cross-training programs to improve productivity and efficiency across prepress, printing, and finishing operations.

Specialty Reports Available on Request

4 specialty industriesavailable on request
▾
Commercial Printing (Except Screen & Books)
323111View →
Commercial Screen Printing
323113View →
Books Printing
323117View →
Support Activities for Printing
323120View →

Industries

Browse deeper into the NAICS hierarchy.

323110 reports

Printing

323120 reports

Support Activities for Printing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NAICS 3231? ▾
NAICS 3231 classifies printing and related support activities establishments that perform printing services and auxiliary print production activities. This includes commercial offset printers, digital print providers, screen printers, flexographic printers, prepress service providers, bindery operations, and platemakers that support the broader printing ecosystem and deliver printed products to end customers.
How does digital printing technology impact the traditional printing industry? ▾
Digital printing enables cost-effective short-run and customized printing without traditional plate setup, making it highly competitive for variable data, personalization, and on-demand applications. Traditional offset printing retains advantages for high-volume, consistent-quality production but faces margin pressure as customers shift toward digital-friendly workflows and smaller batch sizes.
What are the primary end-markets served by printing and related support activities? ▾
The printing industry serves publishing (books, periodicals, directories), packaging and labels (flexible and corrugated), commercial printing (direct mail, forms, collateral), and specialized sectors including functional printing on textiles and industrial substrates. E-commerce growth significantly benefits packaging and labeling segments, while publishing printing faces headwinds from digital content displacement.
What regulatory and environmental factors affect printing operations? ▾
Printing establishments operate under regulations governing VOC emissions, water discharge, chemical handling, and waste management, with varying requirements by state and locality. Increasing environmental regulations and customer sustainability demands are driving adoption of compliant low-VOC inks, waterless printing processes, and waste reduction programs that raise operational costs but support market positioning.
How is the printing industry addressing workforce challenges? ▾
The industry faces aging workforce demographics and skills gaps in advanced digital printing systems, leading to increased training investments, apprenticeship programs, equipment automation, and competitive recruitment efforts. Some facilities are implementing cross-training programs and investing in operator-friendly equipment interfaces to attract and retain workers in a competitive labor environment.

Related Industries

Paper Manufacturing 322Publishing Industries (Except Internet) 511Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods 424Administrative & Support Services 561Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods 424

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