The figures emerged as GMB discussed a workers' Brexit at their 100th Annual Congress in Plymouth on Tuesday. The Office for National Statistics data shows manufacturing pays almost double the total wages into the economy than the financial sector (£63 billion).
GMB said that in 2016 there were 2.6 million UK workers employed in manufacturing, compared to 1 million in financial services, but the financial sector is the focus of Brexit discussion.
It has called for manufacturing to be given the same post-Brexit care and attention from the government.
Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary, said: "These figures show how absolutely crucial UK manufacturing is, it's jobs and livelihoods but it's also a real money-spinner for the economy.
"Whoever forms the next government needs to act straight away not just to protect our 2.6 million manufacturing workers, but to create new skilled jobs in the sector and it's supply chains. That's the sort of Brexit working people need."
