The Hunter has lost more manufacturing jobs over the past decade than any other region in Australia, a new analysis of workforce statistics shows.
Of the 87 Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force regions in Australia, Newcastle ranked first and the Hunter Valley fifth for the loss of manufacturing jobs between May 2011 and May 2021.
The data also shows Newcastle lost 8500 manufacturing jobs, and the Hunter, which covers Maitland, Cessnock, Port Stephens, Dungog, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter local government areas, lost 5000.
The most significant areas where manufacturing jobs were lost from were mining and construction machinery, iron and steel, railway rolling stock, aluminium smelting and shipbuilding.
The sectors correspond to the closure or restructuring of employers such as Goninan at Broadmeadow, the Kurri Aluminium smelter and the floating dock.
Many probably think back to the BHP closure as when our manufacturing jobs took the largest hit, but the loss over the last 10 years is also very significant. Manufacturing creates a lot of jobs in the supply chain, but our industrial scale is being eroded.
Warrick Jordan
"Many probably think back to the BHP closure as when our manufacturing jobs took the largest hit, but the loss over the last 10 years is also very significant. Manufacturing creates a lot of jobs in the supply chain, but our industrial scale is being eroded," Hunter Jobs Alliance coordinator Warrick Jordan said.
"The Hunter has top class tradespeople, brilliant innovators, good infrastructure, and companies committed to the region's manufacturing future, but clearly more needs to be done to maintain this essential part of our economy.
"We know there is a real challenge with attracting investment in new manufacturing operations, processes, and diversification. Whether it's start ups and small business looking to grow, or large employers looking to invest in new products, improving industrial processes or expanding production, it's an ongoing issue."
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The percentage drop in manufacturing jobs in Newcastle (-5.3%) and the Hunter Valley (-4.9%) are also greater than the averages for NSW (-2.1%), Sydney (-1.9%) and Regional NSW (-2.5%).
At the same time, 16 regions, including Port Pirie in South Australia and Central Queensland, have been able to retain or in some cases grow the proportion of manufacturing jobs.
Shortland MP Pat Conroy said Australia's lost manufacturing capacity had been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our ability to make things has been diminished, and as a result Australia now ranks last in manufacturing self-sufficiency among all industrialised countries," he said.
"This has been blatantly obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic where we have had to import goods including vaccines and personal protective equipment because we haven't been able to make enough, or any, ourselves. That needs to change. Australia and the Hunter region's manufacturers can and should be making our own things."
Federal Labor has proposed a $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund manufacturing as part of a plan to rejuvenate the nation's manufacturing capacity.
"The priorities of this fund match exactly what the Hunter's manufacturers do best: energy, defence, rail, and medical," Mr Conroy said.
"A Labor Government will also invest $20 billion in Rewiring the Nation which would rebuild and modernise our energy grid - creating thousand of jobs - and in combination with the National Reconstruction Fund, this puts us in a great position to build new industries around battery manufacturing, electric car production and all the other opportunities presented by new energy sources.
