A new report confirming that Australia’s largest manufacturing industry — the food and grocery sector — continues to grow despite the global financial crisis has been welcomed by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC).
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke has released the findings in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Australian Food Statistics 2008 report.
The report shows the industry supported 14,000 new jobs in 2007-08, with the strongest long-term growth in regional areas.
Complied by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE), the statistics also show the food and beverage sector remains Australia’s largest manufacturing industry, employing around 206,000 people in 2007-08.
AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell says the report confirms Australia’s $100 billion food, grocery and beverage sector, which is vital to many regional centres in Australia, has weathered the global storm better than many other industries.
“The food and grocery sector continues to grow and provide vital employment for thousands of Australians,” Ms Carnell says.
Today’s findings support comments made yesterday by AFGC, saying agribusiness is becoming the “new mining sector” in terms of growth industries in Australia.
The latest GDP statistics have shown that the agrifoods industry has played a major role in keeping Australia out of recession.
The ABS figures show:
- Agriculture has grown by 3 per cent between June 08 and June 09
- Food manufacturing has increased by 5.4 per cent over the same period.
Ms Carnell says the food and grocery industry offers a wide range of career opportunities across the globe from the farm-gate to corporate offices.
“This stable and resilient industry — which supplies safe, affordable and nutritious products - is something young Australians can aspire to work in and be successful,” Ms Carnell says.
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