Manufacturing jobs in Australia

Manufacturing is one of Australia's most important economic sectors, employing hundreds of thousands of people across a wide range of industries — from food and beverage production to automotive components, building materials, chemicals, medical devices, and industrial equipment. While Australia's manufacturing sector has contracted significantly over the past few decades, it remains a major source of employment, particularly in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. This article provides a guide to some of the largest and most significant manufacturing companies operating in Australia in 2026, along with an overview of the sector's employment landscape.

Overview of Manufacturing in Australia

Australian manufacturing employs approximately 900,000 people and contributes around $100 billion to GDP annually. The sector has been through a period of significant change — with the closure of large-scale automotive manufacturing in the mid-2010s — but has found new strength in specialised, high-value manufacturing segments. Growth areas include food and beverage processing, medical device manufacturing, defence industry supply, clean energy equipment, and advanced materials.

Victoria has historically been Australia's manufacturing heartland, home to a concentration of food processing, chemicals, and industrial manufacturing operations around Melbourne. New South Wales hosts significant manufacturing in Western Sydney, the Hunter Valley (metals and resources), and the Illawarra region. Queensland's manufacturing sector is strong in food processing (particularly in regional areas), mining equipment, and construction materials. South Australia has a growing defence manufacturing presence, and Western Australia's manufacturing is closely tied to the resources sector.

Major Manufacturing Companies in Australia

BlueScope Steel

BlueScope Steel is Australia's largest steel producer, headquartered in Melbourne, VIC, with its primary production facility at Port Kembla in Wollongong, NSW. The company employs thousands of people across manufacturing, engineering, sales, and corporate functions in Australia and globally. BlueScope produces a wide range of flat steel products used in construction, automotive, and industrial applications. It is also the parent company of Colorbond steel and the LYSAGHT building products brand.

Bega Cheese

Bega Cheese is one of Australia's largest food manufacturers, with production facilities across NSW, VIC, and QLD. Best known for dairy products including cheese, spreads, and milk, Bega also owns the Vegemite brand and has a significant presence in the broader grocery market. The company employs workers across food production, quality assurance, logistics, and corporate roles, with major facilities in regional NSW and Victoria.

Visy Industries

Visy is one of Australia's largest private companies and one of the biggest packaging and recycling businesses in the Asia-Pacific region. Headquartered in Melbourne, VIC, Visy manufactures glass, cardboard, and plastic packaging products and operates recycling facilities across all major Australian states. The company employs thousands of production, engineering, logistics, and corporate staff, with major manufacturing operations in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, and South Australia.

Asahi Beverages (including Carlton and United Breweries)

Asahi Beverages owns Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) as well as a range of beverage brands including Schweppes Australia. With major breweries in Melbourne (VIC), Sydney (NSW), Brisbane (QLD), and Perth (WA), and soft drink manufacturing facilities in multiple states, the company is a significant manufacturing employer nationally. Roles span brewing and production, engineering, quality, logistics, and sales.

George Weston Foods

George Weston Foods is a major food manufacturer with operations spanning bread (Tip Top, Wonder White), smallgoods (Don, Beak and Johnston), and other food categories. The company has manufacturing facilities across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, and WA, employing thousands of production workers, engineers, quality specialists, and corporate staff. It is owned by the global Associated British Foods group.

Rheinmetall Defence Australia

Rheinmetall Defence Australia is a growing defence manufacturer headquartered in Brisbane, QLD, with its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Redbank. The company is the key contractor for the Australian Army's Land 400 vehicle programme and represents the most significant new manufacturing investment in Australia's defence sector in decades. It employs engineers, skilled tradespeople, project managers, and corporate staff primarily in QLD and ACT.

Thales Australia

Thales Australia is part of the global Thales Group and is one of Australia's largest defence manufacturers. Operations span electronics, munitions, underwater systems, and information technology for the Australian Defence Force. Major facilities are located in NSW (Lithgow, Rydalmere), VIC, and QLD. Thales employs thousands of engineers, manufacturers, and technical specialists across its Australian operations.

Orora

Orora is an ASX-listed packaging manufacturer spun out of Amcor, specialising in fibre and beverage can packaging for the Australian and New Zealand markets. The company's manufacturing operations are concentrated in VIC, NSW, and SA, with production facilities for cardboard boxes, glass bottles, and aluminium cans. Orora employs production workers, engineers, quality specialists, and corporate professionals.

Dulux Group (now part of Nippon Paint)

Dulux Group manufactures paints, coatings, and related products under the Dulux, Cabot's, and other brand names. With manufacturing facilities in Melbourne and other locations across VIC, NSW, and QLD, Dulux employs production staff, chemists, engineers, and sales and marketing professionals across Australia.

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions

Sandvik has a significant Australian manufacturing and assembly presence, primarily supporting the resources sector. Operations include manufacturing and servicing of mining drills, rock tools, and related equipment, with facilities in WA (Perth), QLD (Brisbane), and NSW. Sandvik employs engineers, technicians, and manufacturing professionals servicing the country's major mining operations.

Manufacturing Employment by State

State / Territory	Key Manufacturing Sectors	Major Centres
VIC	Food processing, packaging, chemicals, metals	Melbourne, Geelong
NSW	Food, steel, defence, packaging	Western Sydney, Wollongong, Hunter
QLD	Food processing, defence, mining equipment	Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville
WA	Mining equipment, food, resources supply	Perth, Kalgoorlie
SA	Defence, automotive supply, food and wine	Adelaide
ACT	Defence and technology manufacturing	Canberra

Finding Manufacturing Jobs in Australia

Manufacturing roles in Australia are advertised through a range of channels. Major job boards including Seek, Indeed, and Jora list production, trades, and engineering roles across all states. Many larger manufacturers — including BlueScope, Bega, and Visy — maintain their own careers portals with dedicated job listings. Specialist manufacturing and industrial recruitment agencies are also active in this sector, particularly for trade, technical, and engineering roles in VIC, NSW, and QLD.

Pay rates in manufacturing vary significantly by role. Unskilled production roles typically align with the relevant Modern Award (often the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award), while trades, engineering, and technical roles command significantly higher wages. FIFO and shift work in resources-linked manufacturing in WA and QLD attract premium rates.

Frequently Asked Questions About Manufacturing Jobs in Australia

What types of manufacturing jobs are available in Australia?

Manufacturing jobs in Australia span a wide range — from production operators, machine operators, and forklift drivers to engineers, quality managers, logistics coordinators, and corporate roles. There are opportunities across all skill and qualification levels, from entry-level production work through to highly specialised technical and management positions.

Which state has the most manufacturing jobs in Australia?

Victoria has traditionally been home to the largest concentration of manufacturing jobs in Australia, particularly in food processing, packaging, and chemicals around the Melbourne metropolitan area. NSW and QLD also have large manufacturing workforces.

Is manufacturing growing or shrinking in Australia?

Overall manufacturing employment has declined from its peak, largely due to the end of large-scale automotive production in 2017. However, certain segments — including food processing, defence manufacturing, and advanced materials — are growing. Government investment in local manufacturing capability, particularly in defence and clean energy, is driving new employment in SA, QLD, and VIC.

What qualifications do you need for manufacturing jobs?

Entry-level production roles typically require no formal qualifications beyond the ability to meet physical requirements and pass a drug and alcohol test. Trades roles require a Certificate III or IV in the relevant trade. Engineering positions require a university degree in the relevant discipline. Many roles also require a forklift licence (LF) or similar certification.