Manufacturing skills and workforce snapshot
Workforce overview
Victoria’s sixth largest employing industry:
- 275,000 people employed
- 7.3% of the Victorian workforce.
Top employing jobs in the industry:
- Production managers
- Food and drink factory workers.
Workforce profile
- Predominantly male and culturally diverse workforce
- More workers have a VET qualification (35% compared to 30% statewide)
- Higher proportion of the workforce is aged 50+ (36% compared with 29% statewide)
- Around a quarter of the industry is employed in food and beverage manufacturing, its largest subdivision.
Projections
Victoria’s tenth highest growing industry:
- 13,200 new workers expected by 2028
- By 2028, 2,900 new workers expected in non‑metallic mineral product manufacturing, followed by fabricated metal products manufacturing (+2,000).
Top growing jobs in the industry are:
- Product assemblers, +1,000 new workers by 2028
- Food and drink factory workers, +1,000 new workers by 2028.
Regional outlook
Regions expecting the highest share of new workers:
- Melbourne: Southern metropolitan Melbourne and Western metropolitan Melbourne
- Regional: Barwon and Loddon Campaspe.
Skills demand
The top growing jobs in the industry range in skill level requirements:
- Higher skilled jobs in the industry attract higher wages and have higher retention rates.
Most in-demand industry specific skills:
- Business solutions
- Supply chain management.
Skills supply
Popular vocational education and training courses:
- Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade
- Certificate IV in Process Manufacturing.
Popular university study areas:
- Business management
- Management and commerce.
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