Economy of Wiltshire

[9] Wiltshire's employment structure is distinctive in having a significantly higher number of people in various forms of manufacturing (especially electrical equipment and apparatus, food products, and beverages, furniture, rubber, pharmaceuticals, and plastic goods) than the national average.

[1] In addition, there is higher-than-average employment in public administration and defence, due to the military establishments around the county, particularly around Amesbury and Corsham.

Wiltshire is also distinctive for the high proportion of its working-age population who are economically active (86.6% in 1999–2000) and its low unemployment rates.

The gross domestic product (GDP) level in Wiltshire did not reach the UK average in 1998, and was only marginally above the rate for South West England.

Swindon was chosen in the 1830s to be the site of the Great Western Railway's works, proving many jobs, and manufacturing sprung up which remains strong today.

[16] Nearby, Welton Bibby & Baron claim to be the UK's largest manufacturer of paper bags and similar goods.