Manufacturing Industry in Canada: 10 Facts You Should Know

The manufacturing industry is a cornerstone of Canada’s economy with a massive contribution to the national economy, or gross domestic product (GDP), while accounting for nearly two-thirds of all exports made out of the country.

In short, Canadians across the country rely on a prosperous and thriving manufacturing sector to put food on the table and provide for their families. If there's any way to show just how important an industry is, it's without a doubt by the numbers.

With that in mind, here’s 10 facts you should know about the manufacturing industry in Canada.

Canada’s Manufacturing Sector: 10 Factsi love canadian mining canada action

#1 – The manufacturing sector accounts for approximately $174 billion of GDP, or 10% of the national economy each year (2016)

#2 – A whopping 68% of Canada’s total exports are accounted for by the manufacturing industry annually (2016)

#3 – Total exports by the sector are valued at a whopping $354 billion annually (2016)

#4 – Over three-quarters of exports from Canada’s manufacturing industry were sent to the United States

#5 – About 1.7 million well-paying, full-time jobs are created across the country by the sector (2016)

#6 – In 2016, the manufacturing industry spent $6.6 billion on business enterprise research and development investments, or 32% of the total amount spent nationwide (2016)

#7 – Canada’s manufacturing sector accounts for 21 sub-industry groups that produce goods for both consumer and industrial use

#8 – In 2016, there were approximately 89,925 businesses across Canada involved somehow in the manufacturing sector

Auto-Manufacturing Sector Statistics

#9 – In 2018, wholesale sales of motor vehicles and parts totalled $132 billion, down 5% after hitting a record-high in 2017

#10 – Motor vehicle assembly plants in Canada produced 2.04 million vehicles in 2018, totalling $60.7 billion in sales

Sources: Government of Canada, Statistics Canada

Canadian Industry & Prosperityi love canadian pipelines canada action

The manufacturing sector is just one of many that contribute immensely to our country's prosperity.

Whether it be the financial, manufacturing, energy, fishing or forestry sectors (to name a few), as Canadians we should all rally behind our national industries that provide the opportunities and prosperity we enjoy on a daily basis.

For more facts and statistics on other important Canadian sectors, also see:

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