Manufacturing Workers in focus

Modified on Mon, 16 Mar, 2020 at 7:12 PM


The manufacturing employs approximately 912,500 persons (ABS trend data), which accounts for 7.0 per cent of the total workforce, and has a high number of work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses.


From 2003 to 2015, manufacturing had the fourth highest proportion of fatalities according to industry type, representing 9% (275) of all worker fatalities.


Particularly concerning was that young workers (15–24 year olds) in the manufacturing industry recorded an injury rate 44% higher than young workers in the Australian workforce as a whole.


View the Manufacturing: Priority industry snapshot for an overview of the industry and its WHS performance.


Risks associated with manufacturing


Inherent risks associated with working in the manufacturing industry include:

  • body stressing, manual handling and musculoskeletal disorders
  • slips trips and falls
  • working with dangerous machinery and equipment.


Between 2007–08 to 2011–12:

  • Body stressing represented 41% of workers’ compensation claims. Many of these were due to muscular stress while lifting, carrying, or putting down crates/boxes, barrels and other containers as well as handling metal products.
  • Being hit by moving objects accounted for 18% of claims. More than half of these involved materials, substances and equipment falling or moving into the worker’s path.
  • Falls, trips and slips accounted for 15% of claims. Most involved stairs or falling over objects in traffic areas.


The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012–2022 has identified the manufacturing industry as a priority to reduce fatalities due to the high number and rate of work-related injuries and illnesses.



Employment Characteristics Data

Employment Characteristics

Data

Employment Level - November 2019 ('000)

912.5

Employment Growth - Five years to November 2019 ('000)

-4.1

Employment Growth - Five Years to November 2019 (%)

-0.4

Male Share of Employment - Year to November 2019 (%)

72.7

Female Share of Employment - Year to November 2019 (%)

27.3

Full Time Share of Employment - Year to November 2019 (%)

84.0

Average Full Time Hours - November 2019

40

Median Weekly Earnings in Main Job - August 2019 ($)

1,125

Projected Employment Growth - Five Years to May 2024 ('000)

-3.4

Projected Employment Growth - Five Years to May 2024 (%)

-0.4

Sources: ABS, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly, cat. no. 6291.0.55.003, trend. Average full time hours data is Department of Education, Skills and Employment trend; Earnings data are ABS, Characteristics of Employment Cat. No. 6333.0, August 2019; Department of Education, Skills and Employment, 2019 employment projections, five years to May 2024.


Source: Four quarter average and custom data based on ABS Labour Force, Australia, Cat no: 6291.0.55.003.



Blend Insurance Solutions Pty Ltd (ABN: 47 617 346 353 AFSL: 500768) (“blend”) is an underwriting agency and acts as agent under a binding authority for the Australian branch of Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd (ABN 54 163 304 907).


The content contained on this website is intended for insurance intermediaries only. The insurance products referred to on this website can only be purchased through a broker. Any information contained in this website has been prepared without taking into account your client’s objectives, financial situation or needs. Before deciding to acquire, or to continue to hold, this product(s), we recommend that your client considers whether it is appropriate for their circumstances and reads the Product Disclosure Statement (‘PDS’) and all relevant policy wording, a copy of which can be obtained by contacting blend.

Was this article helpful?

That’s Great!

Thank you for your feedback

Sorry! We couldn't be helpful

Thank you for your feedback

Let us know how can we improve this article!

Select at least one of the reasons
CAPTCHA verification is required.

Feedback sent

We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article