PERCENT CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR

Examine the graph below, which shows the annual growth rate of Canadian industries. Write a
paragraph that compares the growth rate of manufacturing industries to those involving information and
communication technology. How did the economic downturn impact each industry differently? Support
your comparison with examples from the text.
ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF SELECTED CANADIAN INDUSTRIES
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting
10
S
-15
0
"
-10
2006
Manufacturing
Service Industries
Information and Communication Technology
2007
2008
YEAR
2009
2010
2011

According to the graph, the growth rate of manufacturing industries and information and communication technology (ICT) industries varied over the years. In 2006, the growth rate of manufacturing industries was around 10%, while the growth rate of ICT industries was slightly below 0%. However, in 2008, during the economic downturn, both industries experienced a decline in growth rate, but the impact on manufacturing industries was much more severe. The growth rate of manufacturing industries dropped to around -15%, while the growth rate of ICT industries remained near 0%. This can be attributed to the fact that manufacturing industries heavily rely on consumer demand, which significantly decreased during the economic downturn. On the other hand, ICT industries, which focus on technology and communication services, were able to maintain a relatively stable growth rate as the demand for such services remained high even during the economic downturn. Overall, the economic downturn impacted manufacturing industries more negatively compared to ICT industries due to their differing reliance on consumer demand.