Industrial Directory Reports Texas Manufacturing Jobs Declined 2.8% Over Past Year

EVANSTON, Ill., May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in Texas fell 2.8% over the past twelve months according to the 2010 Texas Manufacturers Register®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Texas lost 34,115 industrial jobs between April 2009 and April 2010, a small loss compared to many states across the nation.

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According to earlier reports by MNI, other top manufacturing states saw larger decreases, with California's industrial employment down 5% and Illinois' down 5.7%. Neighboring state Oklahoma saw a loss of 4.5% over twelve months, while New Mexico's industrial employment declined 5.2%.

Manufacturers' News reports Texas is now home to 22,929 manufacturers employing 1,184,471 workers.

"Texas has seen some employment losses due to automation and technology, outsourcing and the recession," said Tom Dubin, President of Manufacturers' News. "But the state maintains a winning combination of reasonable labor and construction costs, a central location within North America to transport products, and a generally favorable business climate."

Industrial machinery and equipment remains Texas' largest manufacturing sector by employment with 161,951 of the state's jobs, down 5% over the year, following layoffs at Schlumberger, Applied Materials, and Lubbock's Tyco Fire Protection Systems plant, among others. Fabricated metal ranks second with 119,076 industrial jobs, with no significant change reported over the year. Third-ranked food products manufacturing accounts for 111,185 industrial jobs, down 1.8% over the twelve-month period.  

MNI reports other sectors that lost jobs over the past twelve months included lumber/wood down 7.9%; chemicals down 6.5%; rubber/plastics down 4.7%; textiles/apparel down 4.3%; stone/clay/glass down 4.2%; primary metals down 3.5% and paper products down 3.1%, due partially to layoffs at MeadWestvaco's paper mill. Electronics and transportation equipment were each down 2% following layoffs at Avnet, BAE Systems, STMicroelectronics and Gulfstream Aerospace, among others.

Bright spots for the state include the planned expansion of Baker Hughes, which plans to move 130 manufacturing positions from overseas back to Texas, the recent opening of a Drillmec Inc. drill manufacturing facility in North Houston, and the planned opening of a Zarges Aluminum Systems plant in Amarillo, which will produce components for wind towers. In addition, Texas maintained the top spot nationally for exports for the eighth straight year, according to government data.

MNI reports industrial jobs declined the most in Northeast Texas, down 3.5% over the year, with the region currently accounting for 433,059 jobs. Industrial jobs declined 3% in Southeast Texas, with the region home to 464,466 workers, while Southwest Texas saw a drop of 2.4%, currently home to 91,763. East Central Texas saw a decline of 2%, and is currently home to 98,341 industrial jobs, while jobs were down 1.8% in Northwest Texas, with the region home to 48,957 of the state's manufacturing jobs. West Central Texas was the only region to gain jobs, up 2.5% over the past twelve months.  

Houston remains the state's and the nation's top city by industrial employment with 227,580 manufacturing jobs, with no significant change reported over the year. Dallas saw employment decrease 10.1% and is currently home to 80,731 industrial workers. Fort Worth accounts for 66,658 industrial jobs, with no significant change reported, while San Antonio accounts for 51,836, down 2.5% over the year. Fifth-ranked Austin saw jobs drop 2% and currently accounts for 41,554 industrial jobs.  

Detailed profiles of Texas' 22,929 manufacturers and 2,692 industrial distributors can be found in the 2010 Texas Manufacturers Register®, available in print for $199 and on CD-ROM from $313. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 72,917 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.