Industrial Directory Reports Oklahoma Gained Manufacturing Jobs Over Past Year

EVANSTON, Ill., Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in Oklahoma increased a half percent according to the 2012 Oklahoma Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Oklahoma gained 1,332 industrial jobs between August 2010 and August 2011, in sharp contrast to the 1.5% drop recorded by MNI over the 2009-2010 survey period, and the 4.5% lost between August 2008 and August 2009.

Manufacturers' News reports Oklahoma is now home to 5,771 manufacturers employing 201,406 workers.

"We continue to see manufacturing sector gains in Oklahoma 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 business-friendly environment and stronghold in the oil and gas industry have been a draw for a variety of enterprises."

Bright spots for the state include the opening of motorcycle manufacturer US Highland's new facility in Tulsa; the expansion of a Hitachi computer plant in Norman; and the expansion of MarkWest Energy's Arapaho processing plant. Forum Energy Technologies expanded their Elmore City facility and Enerflow Industries announced an expansion of its factory in Broken Arrow over the next few years.  

MNI reports industrial machinery and equipment remains the state's largest industrial sector by employment with 34,096 jobs, virtually unchanged from a year ago. Second-ranked oil and gas extraction accounts for 32,196, up 4.4%, while third-ranked fabricated metals accounts for 23,019, down 1.9%.

Sectors that lost jobs over the past year included furniture/fixtures, down 7.5%; lumber/wood, down 5.6%; transportation equipment, down 5% and chemicals, down 1.9%. Employment remained steady in all other sectors, while gains were seen in stone/clay/glass, up 10.7%; textiles/apparel, up 7.4%; petroleum and coal products, up 4.1% and paper products, up 1%.  

Companies closing locations include 3M, which shuttered its IMTEC plant in Ardmore; Plant Performance Services, which closed its Sand Springs facility; and Imation Corp., which shuttered its magnetic tape coating plant.

Manufacturers' News reports Northeast Oklahoma accounts for the most manufacturing employment in the state with 93,071 jobs, virtually unchanged from a year ago. The Northwest region accounts for the second most at 63,126 jobs, up 1%. Southwest Oklahoma is home to 24,789 industrial workers, with no significant change reported, while the Southeast accounts for 20,420, up 4.2% over the past twelve months.  

MNI's city data shows Tulsa is Oklahoma's top city for manufacturing employment, home to 46,846 jobs, up 1.5% over the year. Second-ranked Oklahoma City accounts for 42,260 jobs, up 1%. Broken Arrow is home to 5,738 industrial jobs, up 2.5%, while Ponca City accounts for 4,113 jobs, down 7.2%. Lawton is home to 3,946 industrial jobs, up 2.3% over the past twelve months.

Detailed profiles of Oklahoma's 5,771 manufacturers and 713 industrial distributors can be found in the 2012 Oklahoma Manufacturers Register®, available in print for $111 and on CD-ROM from $170. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 19,061 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.