Growth in high-technology manufacturing outstrips that of low-technology growth
Output and turnover growth has been significantly higher in the high-technology manufacturing sector than for less technology-intensive activities, according to new figures from Eurostat. The average production growth rate for high-technology manufacturing activities was 4% per annum between 1990 and 2006, while the average growth rate for all industrial activities averaged 1.7% per annum. By sector, the fastest rates of growth were recorded for pharmaceuticals (an average of 5.8% per annum), followed by radio, television and communication equipment (5.3% per annum). There was a downward trend in employment levels across industrial activities over the same period. But by far the largest rates of decline (averaging between 4 and 5% per annum) were recorded among low-technology activities such as textiles, clothing and leather products manufacturing.