The Economic Impact of Lightweighting

The studies on the economic impact of lightweighting in Austria, Germany, and Sweden developed a harmonized Lightweighting Satellite Account to quantify the economic significance of lightweighting across sectors, capturing its direct, indirect, and induced impacts on value creation, employment, and innovation, using patent analysis, national statistics, and input-output modeling. All three studies were conducted separately by econmove GmbH (Austria).

Lightweighting – A Cross-Sectoral Key Technology

When looking at lightweight construction in Europe, it is undeniable that this sector holds significant and rapidly growing economic importance. Companies in this field contribute not only to economic growth and job creation but also drive innovation and exports. However, the overall economic importance of lightweighting as a dynamic and fast-growing sector is likely drastically underestimated.

Until recently, attempts to gather reliable data on the economic significance and competitiveness of lightweight construction in Europe have failed. This is due to several reasons:

Lightweight construction is not a single, clearly defined industry but rather a cross-sectoral value network involving many industries, making it impossible to simply sum up sectoral data.
There has been no standardized economic definition of lightweight construction, so existing data is inconsistent and not comparable.
Available data often lacks the necessary level of detail, making it difficult to derive economic importance either from national accounts (top-down) or from company data (bottom-up).
Even when data exists, it only covers direct effects, while indirect and induced effects along the value chain remain unaccounted for—leading to further underestimation.
Finally, no dedicated economic model has yet been developed for lightweight construction, although approaches from other cross-sectoral fields (like tourism or sports) could serve as templates—specifically through the use of satellite accounts.

Due to all these challenges, there was very little comprehensive information on the economic significance of lightweight construction. However, to give this sector the political and economic attention it deserves, understanding its economic impact and potential is crucial.

Study Purpose

The studies carried out in Austria, Germany and Sweden aim to document the overall economic significance of lightweight construction for the first time in a comprehensive and evidence-based manner. The study includes:

Developing a consistent and internationally transferable definition of lightweight construction,
Measuring revenue, value creation, and employment generated by all market participants in this sector,
Identifying and estimating upstream and downstream value chain effects,
Presenting all this data within the framework of a “Lightweight Construction Satellite Account.”

Methodology – Common Approach in All Three Countries

Lightweighting Satellite Accounts (LSA): Special statistical accounts integrating lightweighting data into national economic models.
Input-Output Analysis: Captures direct effects (lightweighting itself), indirect effects (supplier industries), and induced effects (spending from lightweighting-related income).
Patent and Publication Analysis: Identifies technological fields strongly linked to lightweighting to refine its economic definition.

Key Results for Each Country

Austria (Study date 2022; based on data of 2019)

Direct gross value added (GVA): € 9,4 bn (2,65% of GVA)
Total GVA (direct + indirect + induced effects): € 16.4 bn (4,60% of GVA)
Value Added Multiplier: 1,74 (one € generated in lightweight construction triggers 0,74 € of GVA in the rest of the economy)
Direct Employment: 77.427 jobs (1,71% of total employment)
Total Employment: 185.713 jobs (4,09% of total employment)
Employment Multiplier: 2,4 (one job in lightweight construction creates or secures at least 1,4 other jobs in the rest of the economy)
Key Sectors: Automotive, Machinery, Construction, Metal Products

Germany (Study date 2024; based on data of 2019)

Direct GVA: € 124,3 bn (3,97% of GVA)
Total GVA (direct + indirect + induced effects): € 244.6 bn (7,8% of GVA)
Value Added Multiplier: 1,97 (one € generated in lightweight construction triggers 0,97 € of GVA in the rest of the economy)
Direct Employment: 1,322 million jobs (2,92% of total employment)
Total Employment: 3,171 million jobs (7,0% of total employment)
Employment Multiplier: 2,4 (one job in lightweight construction creates or secures at least 1,4 other jobs in the rest of the economy)
Key Sectors: Automotive, Machinery, Aerospace, Shipbuilding, Metal Products

Sweden (Study date 2024; based on data of 2019)

Direct GVA: € 15,57 bn (3,65% of GVA)
Total GVA (direct + indirect + induced effects): € 27,12 bn (6,36% of GVA)
Value Added Multiplier: 1,74 (one € generated in lightweight construction triggers 0,74 € of GVA in the rest of the economy)

Direct Employment: 201.777 jobs (3.99% of total employment)
Total Employment: 354.449 jobs (7.0% of total employment)
Employment Multiplier: 1,76 (one job in lightweight construction creates or secures at least 0,76 other jobs in the rest of the economy)
Key Sectors: Automotive, Construction, Forestry, Retail

Final Note

The studies show that lightweighting is essential for sustainable economic transformation across all three countries, particularly in export-oriented high-tech industries. Despite country-specific differences in sector focus (e.g., forestry in Sweden, automotive dominance in Germany), the economic leverage of lightweighting is consistently high—generating significant indirect and induced economic effects.

Despite its growing recognition, knowledge about the economic impact of lightweighting remains limited due to the complexity of the field. Efforts are underway to expand lightweight construction satellite accounts to the European level. A harmonized definition has been agreed upon, supporting cross-country comparisons and analyses.

The European Lightweighting Network (ELN) will play a key role in further integrating lightweight construction into EU economic policies. Expanding definitions to include processes like additive manufacturing could provide a more comprehensive view of potential savings. Additionally, lightweight satellite accounts could support economic strategies, such as identifying missing companies in national value chains or assessing policy impacts through simulations.