Minnesota Manufacturing Jobs Fell 6.4% Over Past Twenty-Four Months

EVANSTON, Ill., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- /Manufacturers' News, Inc./ -- Industrial employment in Minnesota fell 6.4% over the past twenty-four months according to the 2010 Minnesota Manufacturers Register®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Minnesota lost 31,185 manufacturing jobs over the past two years, with 8,745 jobs lost between September 2007 and September 2008 and 23,217 industrial jobs from 2008 to September of this year.

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Manufacturers' News reports Minnesota is now home to 10,192 manufacturers employing 471,621 workers, compared to a high of 548,061 industrial workers recorded by MNI in 2000. Manufacturing jobs have declined in the state since then, dropping 76,440 jobs or 14%. The loss of 23,000 manufacturing jobs over the past year marks the sharpest decline MNI has ever reported in the twenty-five years it has been tracking the state's industry, and represents nearly a third of all industrial jobs lost since 2000.

"As with the entire nation, the recession continues to hit Minnesota's core sectors, while the faltering housing market has affected industries such as wood products, furniture and building products," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912.

Employment in the transportation sector experienced the sharpest decline, down 18.5% over the past twenty-four months, following layoffs at Lund Boat Co, Glastron Boats, and snowmobile maker Arctic Cat, among others.

MNI reports industrial machinery and equipment manufacturing is Minnesota's largest industrial sector by employment with 70,255 jobs, down 5.1% over two years. Second-ranked food products manufacturing accounts for 64,611 jobs, with no significant change reported over the two-year period, while third-ranked printing/publishing accounts for 52,001 industrial jobs, down 10.8%.

Most other sectors in Minnesota lost jobs within the past twenty-four months and included lumber/wood, down 14.9%; stone/clay/glass down 13.5%; textiles/apparel down 13%; rubber/plastics down 10.4%; primary metals down 9.8%; paper products down 8.9%; electronics down 8.3%; fabricated metals down 8% and furniture/fixtures down 7.7%. The chemicals/allied products sector was the only one to gain jobs, up 2.3% over the past two years.

Despite the losses, some bright spots have emerged recently including Finland-based Moventas' decision to locate a new production facility in Faribault, which will assemble and test wind turbine gears.

According to the industrial directory, East Central Minnesota accounts for the largest share of the state's industrial employment with 248,661 manufacturing jobs, down 12.8% over the past twenty-four months. Southeast Minnesota ranks second at 110,157 manufacturing jobs, down 7.5% over two years. The West Central region of the state accounts for 39,637 jobs, down 4.2%, while the Southwest accounts for 35,902 jobs, down 6.8%. Northeast Minnesota is home to 20,107 industrial jobs, down 13.4%, while the Northwest is home to 17,157 jobs, down 7.7%.

MNI's city data shows Minneapolis is Minnesota's top city for manufacturing employment, with 60,853 jobs, down 7.5% over the past twenty-four months. St. Paul ranks second with 45,305 jobs, down 4.9% over two years. Eden Prairie is home to 13,490 industrial jobs, down 11.1 %, while Eagan accounts for 12,988 jobs, up a half percent over the past twenty-four months. Rochester industrial jobs dropped 19.4%, with the city currently home to 11,146 jobs.

Detailed profiles of Minnesota's 10,192 manufacturers and 1,210 industrial distributors can be found in the 2010 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), 33,335 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.