 Because of its coastal location , the economy of Plymouth has traditionally been maritime , in particular the defence sector with over 12 @,@ 000 people employed and approximately 7 @,@ 500 in the armed forces . The Plymouth Gin Distillery has been producing Plymouth Gin since 1793 , which was exported around the world by the Royal Navy . During the 1930s , it was the most widely distributed gin and has a controlled term of origin . Since the 1980s , employment in the defence sector has decreased substantially and the public sector is now prominent particularly in administration , health , education , medicine and engineering . 
