OTTAWA — Canada lost nearly 322,000 manufacturing jobs from 2004 to 2008, with more than one in seven manufacturing jobs disappearing over the period, reports Stats Canada.

In 2004, manufacturing represented 14.4 percent of total employment; in 2008, the proportion fell to 11.5 percent.
More than 1.5 million jobs were created in the rest of the economy during this period.

Almost all manufacturing industries have seen a sharp decline since 2004. Only a few sectors saw employment increases over the last four years notably manufacturing of transportation equipment (excluding motor vehicles and parts), petroleum and coal products, and computer and electronic products.

Some sectors were hit harder than others. Not surprisingly, automotive was one of them, with more than one in four motor vehicle parts manufacturing jobs were lost (with the majority in Ontario).

Textiles and clothing, long one of the largest manufacturing employers in the country, saw almost half of its jobs disappear.