Industry sectors

Manufacturing contributed $32.8 billion to the NSW economy in 2010, or 10 per cent of total industry value added.

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Manufacturing Sector Profile

This figure is forecast to grow by 19 per cent by 2020, to reach $38.9 billion.

Big employer

Manufacturing is NSW’s third largest employer, accounting for approximately 300,000 employees.

Our manufacturing exports were valued at $11.7 billion in 2008–09, representing 19.4 per cent of total NSW merchandise and services exports.

As Australia's leading business State, NSW provides a natural first choice location for advanced manufacturing.

Diverse strengths

NSW manufacturing covers three levels: large powerhouse industries processing our agricultural and mineral wealth; implementers and fabricators that create consumer products and transform the outputs of primary industrial activity; and high-growth implementers of the latest science and technology.

Our areas of manufacturing expertise and strength range from pharmaceuticals and medical devices to aluminium, iron and steel, wine, processed meat and bakery products.

Innovative and globally connected

NSW’s dynamic and diverse manufacturing sector drives prosperity, both in terms of Gross State Product and employment, while working with other key industries to support their development and innovation. 

Our manufacturing sector is internationally connected with supply lines reaching across the globe, and often characterised by electronic business-to-business communications, advanced information technologies, and lean manufacturing.

With our robust knowledge infrastructure and innovation culture, as well as our strengths in design, logistics and ICT, we’re staking a claim on the world stage.

Educating for the future

NSW is building one of the most well-educated and highly-skilled workforces in the world, leading the charge to train the engineers of tomorrow in our world-class universities.

NSW also has some incredibly innovative research institutions, demonstrating how industry, universities and the NSW Government are working together to advance manufacturing capabilities, products and technologies.

Innovation support

For business, we offer a range of innovation programs to help advanced manufacturers succeed, like Innovation Pathways, TechVouchers and the Australian Technology Showcase.