Industrial Directory Reports Louisiana Manufacturing Jobs Declined 2.3% Over Past Year

EVANSTON, Ill., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in Louisiana fell 2.3% over the past twelve months according to the 2010 Louisiana Manufacturers Register®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Louisiana lost 4,704 industrial jobs between April 2009 and April 2010, a small loss compared to many states across the nation, but still larger than the 1.7% loss MNI reported for Louisiana over the 2008-2009 period.

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According to earlier reports by MNI, Louisiana's neighbors saw larger decreases in industrial employment, with Oklahoma down 4.5% over twelve months, Mississippi down 5.1%, and Arkansas 5.9%.

Manufacturers' News reports Louisiana is now home to 5,246 manufacturers employing 194,584 workers.

"Louisiana has seen some employment losses due to automation and technology, outsourcing and the recession," says Tom Dubin, President of Manufacturers' News. "But its favorable business climate and its strong oil & gas sector have kept it from seeing some of the severe losses suffered by other states."

Chemical manufacturing remains Louisiana's largest industrial sector by employment, accounting for 25,203 of the state's jobs, with no significant change reported. Industrial machinery and equipment ranks second with 22,916 industrial jobs, down 2.5%, following the closure of Trane Commercial Systems' facility in Springhill, among others. Oil and gas extraction ranks as the state's third largest manufacturing sector with 19,057 of the state's industrial jobs, up 9% over the past twelve months.

MNI reports industrial sectors that lost jobs over the past twelve months included printing/publishing down 10.8% and lumber/wood down 9.8%, following the closure of Weyerhaeuser's lumber mill in Taylor and layoffs at Hunt Forest Products in Hammond, among others. Primary metals declined 7.9%; transportation equipment fell 5.7%; paper products were down 5.2%; textiles/apparel down 2.8%; furniture/fixtures down 2.2%, and electronics down 1.7%.  Increases were seen in fabricated metal manufacturing, up 5.1% and rubber/plastics, up 3.1%.

Other bright spots for the state include the planned opening of San Diego-based V-Vehicle Company's auto assembly plant in Monroe, which will employ 1,400 to produce environmentally-friendly vehicles, the expected opening of Point Bio Energy LLC's wood pellet facility in Baton Rouge, the opening of a Zagis USA cotton spinning mill in Jefferson Davis Parish, and the opening of a new Coca-Cola bottling plant in Baton Rouge. Other companies expanding or opening in Louisiana include Northwest Pipe Co., Olin Chlor Alkaki Products, Atlantic Metrocast Inc., Bruce Foods Corp., and J.M. Smucker Company.  

MNI reports industrial jobs declined the most in Northeast Louisiana, down 10.5% over the year, with the region currently accounting for 11,164 jobs. Industrial jobs declined 3.9% in Northwest Louisiana, with the region home to 29,144 workers, while Southeast Louisiana saw a drop of 1.4%, currently home to 101,166. Southwest Louisiana saw a decline of 1.3%, and is currently home to 53,110.  

Baton Rouge remains the state's top city by industrial employment, accounting for 15,859 manufacturing jobs, with no significant change reported over the year.  New Orleans saw employment decrease 4.7% and is currently home to 10,911 industrial workers. Lafayette accounts for 10,261 industrial jobs, with no significant change reported, while Shreveport accounts for 9,521, down 3.3% over the year. Fifth-ranked Houma saw jobs drop 2.9% and currently accounts for 8,576 industrial jobs.  

Detailed profiles of Louisiana's 5,246 manufacturers and 1,183 industrial distributors can be found in the 2010 Louisiana Manufacturers Register®, available in print for $105 and on CD-ROM from $167. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 18,212 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. Information is also available on Facebook and Twitter.

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.