South Dakota Manufacturing Jobs Fell 5.4% Over Past Year

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EVANSTON, Ill., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in South Dakota fell 5.4% over the past twelve months according to the 2010 South Dakota Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports South Dakota lost 2,809 industrial jobs and 74 manufacturers between October 2008 and October 2009, the sharpest decline MNI has ever reported in the twelve years it has been tracking the state's industry.

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Manufacturers' News reports South Dakota is now home to 1,384 manufacturers employing 48,976 workers.

"As with the entire nation, the recession has affected South Dakota's core sectors," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "However, the state's strong exports and favorable business climate should help lay the groundwork for recovery."

Food products ranks as the state's largest industrial sector by employment with 8,575 jobs, down 1.7% over the year. Industrial machinery and equipment ranks second with 6,722 jobs, down 12.3%, due partially to the closure of Hutchinson Technology in Sioux Falls, among others. Third-ranked lumber and wood accounts for 4,052 jobs, down 4.7% over the past twelve months.

The electronics sector saw the largest drop in employment, down 21%, according to MNI, following the closure of a Sanmina-SCI Corp. plant in Rapid City, among others. Most other industrial sectors in South Dakota lost jobs within the past year and included primary metals, down 8.3%; transportation equipment down 7.6%; stone/clay/glass down 7.2%; printing/publishing down 5.8%; textiles/apparel down 4.3%; rubber/plastics down 3.4%; fabricated metals down 3.2% and furniture down 1.5%.

Bright spots for the state included the opening of a Shur-Co facility in Springfield and the expansion of Angus Industries in Watertown. In addition, exports of goods produced in South Dakota have increased significantly according to government data, rising 99% from 2004-2008.

Manufacturers' News reports the Southwest region of the state saw the largest drop in employment, down 19.9% over the year with the region currently accounting for 4,154 jobs. Manufacturing employment declined 5.5% in the Southeast, with the region currently home to 26,006 jobs, while the Northeast saw a 1.8% decrease and is currently home to 17,001 industrial workers.

South Dakota's Northwest region saw a 3.2% increase in manufacturing employment over the year, with the region accounting for 1,815 industrial jobs.

MNI's city data shows Sioux Falls is South Dakota's top city for manufacturing employment, home to 12,032 jobs, down 6.8% over the year. Second-ranked Brookings accounts for 6,062 jobs, with no significant change in employment reported. Industrial employment in Rapid City declined 21.4% over the year and is currently home to 3,574 industrial workers. Yankton accounts for 3,366 industrial jobs with no significant change over the year, while Waterton accounts for 3,178 jobs, down 3.1% over the past twelve months.

Detailed profiles of South Dakota's 1,384 manufacturers and 224 industrial distributors can be found in the 2010 South Dakota Manufacturers Register, available in print for $75 and on CD-ROM from $91. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 4,961 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.