Industrial Directory Reports New Hampshire Manufacturing Jobs Declined 1.1% Over Past Year

EVANSTON, Ill., Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Following several years of significant losses, industrial employment in New Hampshire was little changed over the past year, down 1.1% according to the 2012 New Hampshire Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports New Hampshire lost just 975 manufacturing jobs from October 2010 to October 2011.

Manufacturers' News reports New Hampshire is now home to 2,613 manufacturers employing 81,859 workers.

"The recovery is gaining momentum in New Hampshire and across the U.S.," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "The state's educated workforce and business friendly environment have been a draw for a variety of enterprises."

Bright spots for the state included the opening of Swiss manufacturer Ionbon's new firearms finishing plant in Portsmouth; the expansion of Prototek Sheet Metal Fabrication in Contoocook; Plastimo Inc's establishment of a new plastics recycling facility in Colebrook; and the relocation of Austrian industrial shredding equipment manufacturer UNTHA from Newburyport, Massachusetts to Hampton.

MNI reports electronics remains New Hampshire's largest manufacturing sector by employment with 13,017 jobs, down 1.6% over the year. Second-ranked industrial machinery and equipment manufacturing accounts for 12,713 jobs, down 3.4% over the year, due partially to layoffs at Timken's West Lebanon plant. Third-ranked fabricated metals accounts for 6,856 industrial jobs, with no significant change reported over the year.

Other industrial sectors that lost jobs over the year included paper products, down 17%, following the closure of Fraser Papers' mill in Goram. Stone/clay/glass declined 4.9%; textiles/apparel fell 2.4%; and lumber/wood was down 1.5%. Gains were seen in primary metals, up 5.6%; printing/publishing, up 2.7%; and transportation equipment, up 1.7%. 

MNI's city data shows Manchester is New Hampshire's top city for manufacturing employment, with 8,550 jobs, up 1% over the year. Nashua ranks second with 5,007 industrial jobs, down 5.2% while Londonderry is home to 4,418 jobs, with no significant change reported over the past twelve months. Hudson accounts for 4,257 jobs, up 6.7%, and fifth-ranked Keene accounts for 3,174 industrial workers, 1.6% less than a year ago. 

Detailed profiles of New Hampshire's 2,613 manufacturers and 350 industrial distributors can be found in the 2012 New Hampshire Manufacturers Register, available in print for $92 and on CD-ROM from $123. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 8,896 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.