Manufacturing

Manufacturing has experienced significant growth in recent years. This applies to the country as a whole – and to Aarhus and Business Region Aarhus in particular. Manufacturing turnover increased steadily in the period from the financial crisis in 2008 until 2020, when the sector was hit by Covid-19. However, the prospects for growth in the coming years look promising.

A number of factors contribute to the growth of manufacturing in Aarhus, Business Region Aarhus and Denmark as a whole.

Naturally, the improvement in the overall health of the global economy we have seen in recent years – Covid-19 aside – play the most important role. But beyond a doubt, a strong contributing factor is also the ability of manufacturing companies in East Jutland and Denmark to innovate, both in products and in processes, strengthening competitiveness through such breakthroughs as new manufacturing technologies, advanced materials, automation and digitalisation.

Manufacturing is a major player in East Jutland

The sector's strong growth particularly benefits Aarhus and Business Region Aarhus, due to the fact that manufacturing is such a major player in the East Jutland economy. About 16% of all private jobs in Business Region Aarhus are in manufacturing, and the City of Aarhus is the municipality in Denmark with the most manufacturing jobs.

On the national level, Business Region Aarhus and the Copenhagen metropolitan area are the most important centers of manufacturing exports, accounting for 23% and 36.6% of Denmark’s total manufacturing exports respectively.

What’s more, in recent years manufacturing companies in East Jutland have succeeded in generating higher employment growth than the national average for the sector.

In Aarhus and Business Region Aarhus, the following manufacturing industries are the main generators of jobs and turnover: The machine industry, the beverage and tobacco industry, the furniture industry and the electronics industry. To a high degree, growth in this sector in the Capital Region of Denmark can be attributed to the growth in pharmaceutical exports.