Industry research firm IBISWorld has identified the top 10 best and worst performing industries based on accumulative revenue growth from 2000-2009 and 2010-2019: 

Best Performing Industries In the Past Decade (2000-2009)

Rank	Best Performing	Growth
1	Voice Over Internet Protocol Providers (VoIP)	See Note
2	Search Engines	1655.9%
3	eCommerce & Online Auctions	468.9%
4	Online Dating & Matchmaking	248.8%
5	Tank & Armored Vehicle Manufacturing	244.7%
6	Petrochemical Manufacturing	221.2%
7	Mining Support	186.7%
8	Wireless Telecommunications Carriers	183.4%
9	Biotechnology	182.1%
10	Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters	146.5%

Note:  VoIP is a new industry that only began to earn revenue in 2002.  In the short period to 2009, revenue growth accumulated to an astronomical 179035.8%. 

“VoIP has skyrocketed from non-existent to a massive application targeting telecom carrier’s voice revenues,” explained George Van Horn, senior analyst with IBISWorld.  “Continuing cost advantages for service providers, improving service quality and the expected emergence of mobile VoIP during the next 10 years pave the way for VoIP to be the primary beneficiary of the next leg in telecom’s service development cycle.”    

 

Best Performing Industries In The Coming Decade (2010-2019)

Rank	Best Performing	Growth
1	Voice Over Internet Protocol Providers (VoIP)	149.6%
2	Retirement & Pension Plans	133.7%
3	Biotechnology	127.6%
4	eCommerce & Online Auctions	124.7%
5	Environmental Consulting	120.3%
6	Video Games	112.9%
7	Trusts & Estates	105.7%
8	Search Engines	100.9%
9	Recycling Facilities	80.9%
10	Land Development	72.7%

 

According to IBISWorld, "While the technology and innovation industries that have thrived in the past 10 years are generally expected to continue their run through 2019, the winners of the next ten years will also share the stage with a recovery in financial services and increasing social concerns (e.g. environment)."

 

Worst Performing Industries In The Past Decade (2000-2009)

Rank	Worst Performing	Growth
1	Men's & Boys' Apparel Manufacturing	-89.1%
2	Clothing Accessories Manufacturing	-76.2%
3	Money Market & Other Banking	-73.3%
4	Broad Woven Fabric Mills	-72.7%
5	Women's & Girls' Apparel Manufacturing	-71.4%
6	Apparel Knitting Mills	-70.9%
7	Leather Tanning & Finishing	-70.0%
8	Manufactured Home Dealers	-67.4%
9	Circuit Board & Electronic Component Manufacturing	-63.9%
10	Recordable Media Manufacturing	-63.7%

 

"Industries that have not performed well are primarily in the slow decline stage of their life cycle and continue to grapple with competitive pressures ranging from overseas supply sources to product substitution threats originating from other industry sectors."

 

Worst Performing Industries In The Coming Decade (2010-2019)

Rank	Worst Performing	Growth
1	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	-52.0%
2	Tank & Armored Vehicle Manufacturing	-51.9%
3	Vacuum, Fan & Small Household Appliance Manufacturing	-34.4%
4	DVD, Game & Video Rental	-32.8%
5	Photofinishing	-31.5%
6	Lighting & Bulb Manufacturing	-26.8%
7	Telecommunications Resellers	-26.4%
8	Laminated Plastics Manufacturing	-25.3%
9	Synthetic Fiber Manufacturing	-24.6%
10	Wire & Spring Manufacturing	-24.5%

 

Over a 10 year time frame, the industries that outperform or underperform their peers are those that either benefit from competitive strategic advantages or worse, suffering from significant disadvantages.  While the performance of the economic recovery will dominate near-term industry performance measures, innovative products, competitive costs and improving efficiency will continue to separate the winners from the losers in the upcoming decade (2009-2019).     

Copyright Eric Tyson, 2008 - 2010 all rights reserved.

Eric Tyson is the only best-selling personal finance author who has an extensive background as an hourly-based financial advisor and who does not accept speaking fees, endorsement deals or fees of any type from companies in the financial services industry or product or service providers recommended in his articles, books and his publications.