Employment levels in the manufacturing sector in Wales are amongst the most resilient in the UK, according to new research from the GMB union.
In 2010 the sector employed 137,100 and last year had fallen marginally by 0.4% to 136,500 - a decline of 600 roles. In terms of overall employment and contribution to GDP, manufacturing in Wales has a much higher impact than for the UK as a whole.
Over the same period the GMB said manufacturing jobs across the UK declined by 6.7% from 2.88m to 2.68m - a decline of 192,000.
The biggest fall was experienced in Scotland with a 15.7% dip from 199,000 to 167,000 - a loss of 31,300 jobs. In Northern it declined 14.6% (down 12,900) from 88,500 to 75,600.
Not all parts of the UK experienced decline with the West Midlands adding 25,500 jobs, representing an 8% increase from 320,700 to 346,200. London was also up 3.7% having seen number increase 5,300 to 142,300.
Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB national officer, said: “The loss of almost 200,000 jobs is devastating for those workers – and their wider communities.
“Every job lost means a household income more stretched. In the worst cost of living crisis for a generation we need more decent, skilled jobs – not to shed them at this rate.
“Ministers must address this urgently or there could be worse to come.
“The global green jobs race could revolutionise UK manufacturing – creating tens of thousands of jobs in fabrication for new wind, solar and nuclear.
“But this government (UK) seems happy to let them all disappear overseas.”
Manufacturing employment – 2010 to 2022
Nation/Region |
2010 |
2022 |
Change (n) |
Change (%) |
United Kingdom |
2,882,100 |
2,689,600 |
-192,500 |
-6.7 |
North East |
126,100 |
123,000 |
-3,100 |
-2.5 |
North West |
363,200 |
320,600 |
-42,600 |
-11.7 |
Yorkshire and The Humber |
286,400 |
272,000 |
-14,400 |
-5.0 |
East Midlands |
317,300 |
278,200 |
-39,100 |
-12.3 |
West Midlands |
320,700 |
346,200 |
25,500 |
8.0 |
East |
286,400 |
246,300 |
-40,100 |
-14.0 |
London |
142,300 |
147,500 |
5,200 |
3.7 |
South East |
338,500 |
327,000 |
-11,500 |
-3.4 |
South West |
276,700 |
249,200 |
-27,500 |
-9.9 |
Wales |
137,100 |
136,500 |
-600 |
-0.4 |
Scotland |
199,000 |
167,700 |
-31,300 |
-15.7 |
Northern Ireland |
88,500 |
75,600 |
-12,900 |
-14.6 |
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