Industrial Directory Reports North Dakota Gained Manufacturing Jobs Over Past Year

EVANSTON, Ill., June 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in North Dakota increased 3.2% over the past twelve months according to the 2012 North Dakota Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports North Dakota gained 1,148 industrial jobs between April 2010 and April 2011, one of the few states to post a gain since mid-2008.

Manufacturers' News reports North Dakota is now home to 1,258 manufacturers employing 36,705 workers.

"The recovery is gaining momentum in North Dakota and across the U.S.," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "North Dakota's manufacturing has rebounded due to its stronghold in agricultural products, its favorable business climate, and investments in green technologies."

Bright spots for the state included the planned opening of Kim & Price Corp.'s beef processing facility in central North Dakota, a joint venture between Korean investors and North Dakota ranchers, slated to start production in 2012. Advanced Drainage Systems, a manufacturer of corrugated plastic pipe, plans a facility in Buxton, while Green Vision Group plans to open an ethanol plant that uses sugar beets instead of corn to make 3.5 million gallons of ethanol per year.

Industrial machinery and equipment remains North Dakota's largest industrial sector by employment, accounting for 6,440 of the state's jobs, up 6.4% over the year, Food products ranks second with 5,506 industrial jobs, down 1.5%, due partially to the closure of Dakota County Cheese in Mandan. Fabricated metal ranks as the state's third largest manufacturing sector with 3,260 of the state's industrial jobs, up 4.5% over the past twelve months.

Other sectors that gained jobs included oil and gas extraction up 22%; stone/clay/glass up 6%; fabricated metals up 4.5% and electronics up 1.9%, according to MNI. Sectors that lost jobs included rubber/plastics, down 4.4%; lumber/wood down 4%; furniture/fixtures down 3.2% and transportation equipment down 3.1%. Employment remained steady in textiles/apparel, paper products, chemicals, primary metals and printing/publishing.

MNI reports the Southeast region of North Dakota accounts for the most industrial employment, with 20,773 industrial jobs, up 1% over the year. The Northwest accounts for 5,477, up 16.2% over the past year. The Southwest is home to 5,230, up 4.7%, while the Northeast region is home to 5,225 industrial workers, down 1% over the past twelve months.

MNI reports manufacturing employment in North Dakota's largest industrial cities either saw increases or remained unchanged over the year. Fargo remains the state's top city by manufacturing employment, accounting for 9,769 jobs, up 2.2% over the past twelve months. Williston accounts for 2,582 industrial jobs, up 10.7%. Grand Forks is currently home to 2,236 industrial workers, with no significant change reported over the year, while West Fargo accounts for 1,971, up 1.1%. Bismarck accounts for 1,936 industrial jobs, virtually unchanged from a year ago.

Detailed profiles of North Dakota's 1,258 manufacturers and 373 industrial distributors can be found in the 2012 North Dakota Manufacturers Register, available in print for $78 and on CD-ROM from $90. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 4,939 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.