轻工业指以提供生活消费品为主的工业，通常指纺织业、或加工业这种二次性的工业。与重工业相对。国际上对轻工业尚未有一个严谨的、统一的概念。通常轻工业加工完成品都可以以人力拿起、或是与人类差不多大小的产品，放至于屋内，以经常在日常生活中使用到。轻工业特性是能提供大量工作机会，但是技术难度只属中等，又只需中等初期资金投入轻型机具和小厂房所以多半能由民间自行成立；轻工业很多是创建在农林牧产品的二次加工上，所以会出现在农业兴盛满足后的社会。

Light industry is industry that is usually less capital-intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented (i.e., most light industry products are produced for end users rather than as intermediates for use by other industries). Light industry facilities typically have less environmental impact than those associated with heavy industry, and zoning laws are more likely to permit light industry near residential areas. It is the production of small consumer goods.