Industry Sectors and Opportunities

Canning has a diverse and high-performing economy with strong representation across manufacturing, transport and logistics, construction, wholesale trade, retail and health care.

This page provides an overview of the key industry sectors and the opportunities they present for businesses and investors.

Key industry sectors

The following sectors make the largest contribution to Canning's economy in terms of revenue and employment. Data is sourced from the CCIWA Leading Industry Sector Analysis, March 2026.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is Canning's largest sector by revenue, generating more than $6.2 billion annually and employing approximately 10,100 people. The sector spans precision engineering, food processing, marine technology and defence-related manufacturing, anchored in the Welshpool and Canning Vale industrial precincts.

Key opportunity: Canning Vale is home to WA's largest food hub, with significant potential for food value-add manufacturing and processing investment.

Construction

Construction generates more than $3.1 billion in annual revenue and employs approximately 6,800 people. The sector benefits from sustained residential and commercial development activity across the City and the broader southern metropolitan corridor.

Wholesale Trade

Wholesale trade contributes approximately $3.1 billion in annual revenue and employs approximately 7,000 people. The sector is well supported by Canning's central location and strong freight and logistics connectivity.

Transport, Postal and Warehousing

Transport, postal and warehousing is Canning's largest sector by business count, with approximately 4,000 businesses generating approximately $3 billion in annual revenue and employing approximately 7,600 people. Around 88 per cent of businesses in this sector are sole traders, reflecting the strong presence of owner-operator freight and logistics businesses.

Key opportunity: The anticipated transition to Westport, Western Australia's future container port at Kwinana, is expected to significantly increase freight activity through Canning's transport corridors, creating substantial opportunities for logistics and supply chain businesses.

Retail Trade

Retail trade generates approximately $960 million in annual revenue and employs approximately 7,400 people. The sector is anchored by Westfield Carousel, WA's largest shopping centre, and supported by a network of local retail and commercial precincts across the City.

Health Care and Social Assistance

Health care and social assistance generates approximately $1 billion in annual revenue and employs approximately 7,200 people. It is one of the fastest growing sectors in Canning, driven by population growth and an ageing demographic.

Mining Support Services

Mining support services generates approximately $986 million in annual revenue and employs approximately 3,400 people. The sector benefits from Canning's proximity to Perth's CBD and its strong engineering and manufacturing base.

Professional Services

Professional services generates approximately $711 million in annual revenue and employs approximately 3,000 people. The sector supports the broader business community across legal, financial, consulting and technical services.

High growth sectors

The following sectors have shown strong revenue growth over the past five years within Canning:

• Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction: plus 34 per cent
• Road Transport: plus 33 per cent
• Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing: plus 32 per cent
• Materials and Motor Vehicle Wholesaling: plus 32 per cent
• Food Product Manufacturing: plus 30 per cent.

Strategic opportunities

Four major strategic opportunities have been identified for investment and business development in Canning.

Canning Vale Food Value-Add Precinct

Canning Vale is home to WA's largest food hub. There is significant opportunity to develop food value-add manufacturing and processing operations in the precinct, leveraging existing supply chain infrastructure and a strong workforce base.

Made in WA and clean energy transition

Growing demand for locally manufactured products and the transition to clean energy creates opportunities across advanced manufacturing, renewable energy components and related supply chains.

Defence supply chain

Canning's manufacturing base and engineering capabilities position it well to participate in the growing defence supply chain, particularly as Australia's defence investment increases.

Westport logistics transition

The development of Westport as WA's future container port at Kwinana will drive significant growth in freight and logistics activity through Canning's transport corridors, creating opportunities for warehousing, distribution and logistics businesses.

Get in touch

If you would like to discuss investment opportunities in any of these sectors or find out more about what Canning has to offer your business, our Business and Economic Development team is here to help.

Call: 1300 422 664
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.15am to 5pm