Minnesota Manufacturing Jobs Declined 6.8% Over Past Two Years

EVANSTON, Ill., Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Manufacturing employment in Minnesota fell 6.8% over the past two years according to the 2011 Minnesota Manufacturers Register®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Minnesota lost 34,086 manufacturing jobs and 766 manufacturers between September 2008 and September 2010.

Manufacturers' News reports Minnesota is now home to 9,895 manufacturers employing 460,752 workers.

"Decreased demand continues to affect Minnesota's manufacturing sector," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "But losses have definitely slowed over the past year, and the state's educated workforce and investment in emerging technologies continues to improve the outlook."

Bright spots for the state included expansions at several facilities such as Goodrich Corporation's Sensors and Integrated Systems in Burnsville; Excel Plastics LLC in Fergus Falls; biopharmaceutical maker ATMI, Inc. in Bloomington; and SAGE Electrochromics in Faribault, which will more than double its workforce to produce electronically tintable glass for energy efficient windows.

MNI reports industrial machinery and equipment manufacturing remains Minnesota's largest industrial sector by employment with 67,715 jobs, down 7.4% over two years, following the closure of McLean Cooling Technology and layoffs at Schwing American, among others. Second-ranked food products manufacturing accounts for 66,245 jobs, down 1.6% over the two-year period, while third-ranked printing/publishing accounts for 50,135 industrial jobs, down 11.2%.  

Most other sectors in Minnesota lost jobs within the past twenty-four months and included primary metals, down 18.2%, due partially to the closures of two Intermet Corp. plants. Transportation equipment declined 16.9%, while lumber/wood fell 16.7%, following layoffs at Anderson Corp, among others. Textiles/apparel declined 14.6%; stone/clay/glass was down 14.2%; and electronics fell 11.5%, after the closure of Celestica Inc., among others. The chemicals/allied products sector increased employment by 1% over the past two years, according to MNI.

According to the industrial directory, East Central Minnesota accounts for the largest share of the state's industrial employment with 238,463 manufacturing jobs, down 8.4% over the past twenty-four months. Southeast Minnesota ranks second at 110,454 manufacturing jobs, down 3.9% over two years. The West Central region of the state accounts for 39,656 jobs, down 3.3%, while the Southwest accounts for 35,424 jobs, down 7.8%. Northeast Minnesota is home to 19,997 industrial jobs, down 9.5%, while the Northwest is home to 16,758 jobs, down 5.9%.

MNI's city data shows Minneapolis remains Minnesota's top city for manufacturing employment, with 57,668 jobs, down 8.2% over the past twenty-four months. St. Paul ranks second with 42,137 jobs, down 7.4% over two years. Eden Prairie is home to 13,468 industrial jobs, down 14.7%, while Eagan accounts for 12,201 jobs, down 5.8% over the past twenty-four months. Rochester industrial jobs dropped 13.8%, with the city currently home to 11,102 jobs.

Detailed profiles of Minnesota's 9,895 manufacturers and 1,189 industrial distributors can be found in the 2011 Minnesota Manufacturers Register®, available in print for $137 and on CD-ROM from $218. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 33,636 executives by name and title, product(s) manufactured, annual sales, number of employees, and more. Visitors to mnileads.com may generate custom profiles of manufacturers using thirteen different criteria, including area or zip code, county, SIC, sales volume, number of employees, and more.

Manufacturers' News, Inc., publisher of manufacturers' directories since 1912, compiles and produces manufacturing guides, statistics and databases for all 50 states. MNI also maintains IndustryNet.com, an industrial search engine designed specifically for locating manufacturers and suppliers nationwide. For more information, contact Manufacturers' News, Inc., 1633 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60201, 847-864-7000, FAX 847-332-1100.  

SOURCE Manufacturers' News, Inc.