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Agriculture and its associated rural undertakings are still maintained around the town, although these have shown a gradual decrease over the years as more and more of the farmland closer to the town has been sold off for housing development. Despite this, however, farming is still the largest single industry in the area.

A few large industrial businesses have existed in the town during the past two hundred years, such as ropemaking, and cattle feed mills, but these have all but disappeared or diminished, in recent years.

The town still has several smaller contemporary factories, including general and agricultural engineering, sheet metal, printing, and motor vehicle ancillary works.

Two main industrial estates, and several smaller sites, have been developed in the town since the 1950's, these accommodating and localising the majority of the small manufacturing works and a source of employment for local residents.

As the available local opportunities fall short of providing sufficient employment for all of Hailsham's working population, a large number of workers travel to adjacent towns, and some to London, either by road, or via the London Victoria rail connection at Polegate or Lewes.

Employment Agency offices (Jobcentre Plus) are based at Eastbourne, and there is a Sussex Careers facility at the Hailsham Community College.