The manufacturing sector has many sub-sectors, which can vary with each source. Most sources include the following sub-sectors:

• food, drink and tobacco
• metals
• chemicals
• wood and paper
• rubber and plastics
• machinery and equipment

E-manufacturing is a recent addition to the manufacturing sector.

There has been a decline in the output in the manufacturing sector in all the major economies, but manufacturing is still an important element of every economy. The British government have devised a Manufacturing Strategy, which aims to deliver macro-economic stability, a modern infrastructure and the right market framework and assist companies by promoting investment, skills, innovation and best practice.

There are around four million people employed in manufacturing across a diverse range of occupations. Despite projected job losses of over half a million by 2012, there will still be significant replacement demand. Most vacancies are in the skilled trades and machine operatives. There will also be requirements for managers and technical workers across most sub-sectors. There is also an ever increasing number of IT related jobs.

There are few regional differences in employment levels in manufacturing as a whole, although some sub-sectors have historical regionalised clusters.

There is a disproportionate amount of men employed in manufacturing. The proportions of minority ethnic workers and disabled workers are reflective of the whole UK economy.

Manufacturers tend to under-invest in training and there are lower skills than average. There are a number of initiatives and schemes that aim to drive up the supply of skills for manufacturing, from school level through to lifelong learning.

Young people need to be encouraged into manufacturing. The importance of the sector and breadth of its sub-sectors and their related occupations and skills requirements, present a diverse range of opportunities.