Industrial Directory Reports Kentucky Manufacturing Jobs Increased 1.5% Over The Past Year

EVANSTON, Ill., Nov. 29th, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in Kentucky increased 1.5% over the past year, according to the 2013 Kentucky Manufacturers Register^®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Kentucky gained 4,212 manufacturing jobs from September 2011 to September 2012.

Manufacturers' News reports Kentucky is now home to 5,200 manufacturers employing 278,299 workers.

"Kentucky continues to see its manufacturing sector improve," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "Its business-friendly environment has made it easier for manufacturers to expand, and its stronghold in the auto industry has helped boost employment."

Bright spots for the state included the opening of Ashai Bluegrass Forge's new automotive parts plant in Richmond; the establishment of Magna Seating's new auto supply plant in Shepherdsville; and the opening of GE's new water heater plant in Louisville. In addition, several manufacturers have announced expansions over the year including Ford's Louisville assembly plant, which recently added a third shift; Denyo Manufacturing, which expanded its Danville auto supply plant; and Mazak Corp.'s machine plant as well as L'Oreal's hair care products production facility, both in Florence.

MNI reports Kentucky's largest industrial sectors by employment all posted gains over the year. Transportation equipment manufacturing remains Kentucky's top manufacturing sector with 41,751 jobs, up 10.1% over the year. Food products manufacturing ranks second and accounts for 33,244 jobs, up 2.2%. Third-ranked industrial machinery and equipment represents 30,668 of the state's jobs, up 2.9%. 

Other industrial sectors that gained jobs included textiles/apparel, up 6.7%; electronics, up 2.8%; and fabricated metals, up 1%. Losses were seen in furniture/fixtures, down 6.7%; stone/clay/glass, down 2.9%; lumber/wood, down 2.6%; paper products, down 1.3%; and printing/publishing down 1%.

Industrial locations closing over the year included AK Steel's plant in Ashland; Truseal Technologies facility in Barbourville; Berry Plastics' Madisonville site; and Adcom Wire's plant in Nicholasville. 

According to the industrial directory, Northeast Kentucky accounts for the largest share of the state's industrial employment with 154,482 manufacturing jobs, up 2.2%. Southwest Kentucky is home to 45,718 industrial jobs, up 4.5%. Southeast Kentucky ranks third at 43,464 manufacturing jobs, down 2.8%, while the Northwest is home to 34,635 jobs, with no significant change reported.

MNI reports Louisville remains Kentucky's top city for manufacturing employment, with 51,883 jobs, up 5.1% over the year. Lexington ranks second with 20,283 jobs, down 1%. Bowling Green saw jobs increase 9.9%, with the third-ranked city now home to 10,815 industrial jobs. Manufacturing employment in Florence increased 7.2%, with the fourth-ranked city accounting for 9,989 jobs, while Georgetown is home to 9,517, down a half percent over the past twelve months. 

Detailed profiles of Kentucky's 5,200 manufacturers and 743 distributors can be found in the 2013 Kentucky Manufacturers Register^®, available in print for $111, or available online through MNI's subscription-based service at www.ezselect.com. Users may generate custom profiles of manufacturers using a variety of criteria, including area or zip code, county, SIC, sales volume, number of employees, and more. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 21,015 executives by name and title, product(s) manufactured, annual sales, and number of employees. MNI also maintains IndustryNet.com, an industrial search engine designed specifically for locating manufacturers and suppliers nationwide, and has recently launched an expansion and relocation guide for manufacturers.

Manufacturers' News, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest publisher of state manufacturers directories.  For 100 years the company has identified, researched and profiled manufacturing establishments. MNI employs an 85-person editorial staff to scour state business registrations, trade journals, financial reports, and many other sources to pinpoint every manufacturing establishment in the U.S. Each manufacturer is contacted throughout the year to update their profiles, including their employee counts. For more information, contact Manufacturers' News, Inc., 1633 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60201, 847-864-7000, FAX 847-332-1100. www.manufacturersnews.com. Information is also available on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Manufacturers' News, Inc.