DEAL NB ANALYSIS
Key Industries in New Brunswick: A Data-Driven Sector Overview
A data-driven overview of the industries shaping New Brunswick, from resources and manufacturing to technology, construction, energy and services.
New Brunswick’s economy combines resource industries, export-oriented manufacturing, large infrastructure and energy assets, growing urban service centres, and specialized technology capabilities. The province’s commercial landscape is therefore broader than any single industry label suggests.
The Government of New Brunswick’s 2026 economic development strategy organizes its priorities into three broad groups: resource-based industries; knowledge, technology and technology-enabled industries; and defence. Current economic data also shows the continuing importance of construction, utilities, health care, retail, logistics and business services.
New Brunswick’s priority sector framework
| Priority group | Examples identified by the province | Economic role |
|---|---|---|
| Resource-based industries | Mining, agri-food, seafood and forestry | Production, processing, exports and regional supply chains |
| Knowledge and technology | Cybersecurity, AI, advanced manufacturing, modern construction, IT, creative industries and health technologies | Productivity, higher-value output, innovation and talent |
| Defence and dual use | Cybersecurity, technology and capabilities supporting civilian and defence applications | Procurement, innovation and specialized supply chains |
Resources remain a major economic foundation
New Brunswick’s forests, agricultural land, fisheries and mineral potential support activity throughout the province. These sectors extend beyond extraction or harvesting. They connect to processing, packaging, transportation, equipment, maintenance, environmental services and export logistics.
Farm cash receipts reached a record $1.3 billion in 2025, an increase of 12.8%. Crop receipts represented 64.7% of the total, with cannabis and fresh potatoes accounting for a large share. Livestock and livestock product receipts reached $440.7 million.
Seafood product preparation and packaging generated approximately $1.7 billion in sales. Wood product manufacturing also recorded about $1.7 billion in sales, while employment in the wood-products subsector rose to 5,900 positions. These figures show meaningful industrial activity but also underline how commodity prices, resource availability and external demand can affect annual performance.
Manufacturing is diverse and capital intensive
New Brunswick manufacturing produced $23.0 billion in sales in 2025 and represented 8.8% of provincial real GDP. Employment rose to 33,400 positions. The sector includes petroleum and coal products, food and seafood processing, wood and paper, fabricated metals, machinery and other industrial production.
Capital investment in manufacturing increased by $352.8 million to $1.3 billion, the largest industry increase reported for the year. Lower sales and higher investment occurred at the same time, demonstrating that one annual indicator cannot fully describe industrial conditions. Capital projects may reflect modernization, maintenance, capacity changes or longer-term productivity requirements.
For a deeper view, read Manufacturing in New Brunswick: Sales, Employment and Investment.
Construction and infrastructure were major growth drivers
Construction output increased by 9.2% in 2025, the strongest growth among the province’s major industries. Investment in building construction reached $4.8 billion, up 20.4%, and housing starts reached a record 7,587 units.
Construction activity creates demand across building materials, equipment, engineering, project services, safety, logistics, energy systems and property operations. The provincial strategy specifically includes modern methods of construction among its technology-enabled priorities, connecting conventional construction demand with productivity and innovation.
Energy and utilities influence industrial competitiveness
Utilities output grew by 7.4% in 2025, and capital investment in the sector increased by $204.4 million. New Brunswick’s energy system includes nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, biomass, natural gas and other generation sources, together with interconnections to neighbouring provinces and Maine.
Energy is not only a standalone sector. Reliability, capacity and cost affect manufacturing, data-intensive operations, transportation and major investment decisions. The province identifies stronger energy systems as one of the enabling conditions for long-term economic growth.
Technology is a cross-sector capability
New Brunswick has recognized strengths in cybersecurity and information technology. The 2026 strategy also emphasizes artificial intelligence, health technologies, advanced manufacturing and technology-enabled construction. These capabilities should not be viewed as isolated from traditional industries. Their economic value often comes from improving productivity, automation, security, maintenance, data use and service delivery across established sectors.
The information and communications technology sector represented 3.7% of provincial GDP in 2025, although employment declined during the year. This is another example of why sector size, output, jobs and growth must be assessed separately.
Health care and services shape demand
Health care and social assistance contributed to economic and employment growth in 2025. Retail sales reached $18.7 billion, food-service receipts reached $1.7 billion, and the number of active businesses reached a record 17,602. Small businesses represented 97.8% of those active firms.
Service industries create demand for technology, facilities, professional services, equipment and operational solutions. However, purchasing structures and decision cycles can differ substantially between public institutions, large private organizations and small owner-managed businesses.
How to read the sector landscape
- Separate sector size from growth. A large established sector can contract in one year while remaining commercially important.
- Follow investment as well as sales. Capital spending can reveal modernization and capacity needs that revenue data does not show.
- Distinguish provincial and regional clusters. Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton and northern communities have different concentrations.
- Identify connected supply chains. Resource, manufacturing, energy, logistics and technology activity often overlap.
- Use dated evidence. Annual figures can move with prices, major projects, exports and labour availability.
Companies seeking a clearer view of sector relevance and local buyer conditions can review Deal NB’s commercial services or contact Deal NB.
Sources and data note
- Government of New Brunswick, Economic Development Strategy, 2026
- Government of New Brunswick, The New Brunswick Economy: 2025 in Review
Data reviewed August 11, 2026. Sector figures are dated observations and may be revised.
This analysis uses dated public information from the sources listed. Figures may be revised and do not constitute legal, financial or investment advice.
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