Industrial Directory Reports Virginia Manufacturing Jobs Remained Steady Over Past Year

EVANSTON, Ill., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Following several years of significant losses, industrial employment in Virginia was little changed over the past year, falling less than one percent, according to the 2012 Virginia Manufacturers Directory®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Virginia lost 2,536 industrial jobs between November 2010 and November 2011.

Manufacturers' News reports Virginia is now home to 6,497 manufacturers employing 333,042 workers.

"The recovery is gaining momentum in Virginia 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, solid infrastructure and educated workforce have been a draw for both domestic and international enterprises."

Bright spots for the state included the expansion of Mazda's Chesterfield plant; power tool manufacturer Stihl Inc.'s plans to expand its Virginia Beach facility; the opening of Rolls Royce's aerospace research and manufacturing site in Prince George County; the joint partnership of wood pellet manufacturers Enviva LP and Biomass Energy LLC to expand a wood pellet facility in Bumpass; Federal Mogul's plans to expand its facility in Blacksburg; the continuing expansion of plastics maker Presto Products Co. in Halifax County; and Fareva's investment in Pfizer's Henrico County plant.

Transportation equipment manufacturing ranks as Virginia's top sector by employment with 36,534 jobs, up 1.3% over the year. Second-ranked food products accounts for 33,200 jobs, down 1.1%. Printing and publishing is the state's third-largest sector by employment with 30,326 jobs, down 5.8%. 

Manufacturing sectors that lost jobs within the past year included electronics, down 6.7%; lumber/wood down 5.1%; rubber/plastics down 3.3%; stone/clay/glass down 3.1%; and textiles/apparel down 2.2%. Gains were seen in industrial machinery and equipment, up 3.9% and chemicals, up 1.5%.

Industrial locations closing down included CooperVision's contact lens manufacturing facility in West Ghent; United Litho's magazine printing location in Ashburn; Quad Graphics' Richmond plant; American Press's facility in Gordonsville; GM's Powertrain facility in Spotsylvania County; and Thomasville's furniture manufacturing plant in Appomattox.

MNI's city data shows Richmond is Virginia's top city for manufacturing employment, home to 29,610 jobs, down 4.6% over the year. Second-ranked Newport News saw little change in employment and currently accounts for 25,746 jobs. Industrial employment in Roanoke was virtually unchanged over the year and is currently home to 12,334 industrial workers. Norfolk accounts for 10,014 industrial jobs, down 6.9% over the year while Lynchburg accounts for 9,858 jobs, down 1.8%. 

Detailed profiles of Virginia's 6,497 manufacturers and 1,178 industrial distributors can be found in the 2012 Virginia Manufacturers Directory®, available in print for $118 and on CD-ROM from $188. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 24,656 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.