Employment levels in this industry are projected to remain stable, with no dramatic shifts in occupational structure.

The manufacturing sector is mainly composed of operatives, elementary jobs, skilled trades, and managers and senior officials. While the UK as a whole is mainly composed of managers and senior officials, and professionals.

The food, drink, and tobacco sector makes up 1.6% of total employees in employment in the UK and 10% of manufacturing employment. The largest sub-sectors in terms of employment would include the production, processing and preserving of meat (23%); bread, fresh pastry goods and cakes (17%); and cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery (5%).

The food, drink, and tobacco sector workforce comprises of:

• process, plant and machine operatives together with elementary jobs 55%
• skilled trades 14%
• managers and senior officials 11%

Source: SSDA Skills Matrix 2004 and Working Futures 2004a