According to Statistics Canada, total manufacturing sales rose 1.0 percent to $614.4 billion in 2016, following a 1.7 percent decline in 2015. Higher sales in the transportation equipment and food industries offset declines in the petroleum and coal product industries.
The transportation equipment industry posted the most important gain in 2016, up 5.8 percent to $130.0 billion in 2016. Motor vehicle manufacturing sales rose 11.8 percent from 2015 to $69.5 billion in 2016. In January 2016, recently completed retooling of automotive plants, along with the introduction of more expensive production models, brought motor vehicle manufacturing sales to their highest level since March 2000.
Machinery manufacturing sales were down for the second straight year, declining 7.1 percent to $32.0 billion in 2016. Most of the decrease was attributable to lower mining and oil and gas field machinery sales in Alberta.
The average monthly inventory levels declined 1.5 percent to $70.0 billion in 2016. Following five consecutive annual increases, average annual inventory levels were at a record high in 2015.
The annual average inventory-to-sales ratio declined from 1.40 in 2015 to 1.37 in 2016.
After rebounding in February following a low in January, the inventory-to-sales ratio trended downward throughout the year. The decrease was particularly steep at the end of the year, attributable to sales gains in November and December and the continuing decline in inventory levels.
After rebounding in February following a low in January, the inventory-to-sales ratio trended downward throughout the year. The decrease was particularly steep at the end of the year, attributable to sales gains in November and December and the continuing decline in inventory levels.
Employment in manufacturing decreased 1.0 percent to 1.7 million workers in 2016, following a slight gain in 2015. Full-time work accounted for 95.5 percent of manufacturing jobs, while 28.1 percent of the workforce were women.