Manufacturing in Australia is a large and diverse industry, employing more than 1.1 million people. Despite its decline in relative importance (from providing 16.3% of jobs to providing 13.4%), it is still the second largest employing industry. Manufacturing makes up the major component of exports, accounting for 51 percent in 1994-95. Over the last decade, some subdivisions, especially metal products, have shown little employment growth. Sizable drops in employment have occurred in textiles, clothing and footwear, and machinery and equipment. Based on its occupational profile, manufacturing is substantially more reliant on the vocational education and training (VET) sector for its skill requirements than most industries. Its qualifications profile shows its skills are concentrated in the skilled vocational area. In the trades area, major declines have occurred in metal fitting and machining, vehicle, electrical, building, printing, and other metal trades. Significant rises in trades employment have occurred in welding, screen printing, baking and pastry cooking, wood machining, other wood trades, upholstering and bedding, and garment trades where skill shortages are most likely. About 90 percent of jobs are full time. Manufacturing is concentrated in New South Wales and Victoria. VET graduates generally rated the quality and relevance of their VET courses quite highly. Upon graduation, 73.4 percent of graduates had a job. Manufacturing is one of three main employers of apprentices. (Appendix includes six tables and three charts.) (YLB)