Maryland Manufacturers Directory Reports State Industrial Jobs Down Half Percent - July 11, 2008
Contact: Jennifer Ratcliff Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (847) 864-9440 ext. 241 jratcliff [at] manufacturersnews.com
EVANSTON, Ill, July 14, 2008/Manufacturers’ News, Inc./-- Industrial employment in Maryland dropped a half percent over the past 12 months according to the 2009 Maryland/DC Manufacturers Directory, a compilation of state industry published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. The directory reports Maryland lost 752 industrial jobs from May 2007 to May 2008, a negligible loss compared to the steep employment loss MNI reported for the state over the previous two years.
According to earlier MNI reports, Maryland’s industrial employment dropped 2% between May 2005 and May 2006, and then dropped another 1.7% over the 2006-2007 survey period.
“Maryland’s strong defense electronics and communications equipment industries have helped stem the flow of manufacturing jobs to other states and countries,” says Tom Dubin, President of Manufacturers’ News, Inc. “As with the entire nation, Maryland’s industrial employment is suffering due to automation, mergers and consolidation. But as wages in developing countries increase and fuel costs cut into freight-sensitive goods, some manufacturers are bringing production back home.”
Manufacturers’ News reports the Maryland/DC region is home to 5,469 manufacturers employing 205,162 workers. Maryland ranks 31st in the nation for number of manufacturing jobs and 29th for related plants. MNI profiles manufacturers of all sizes, including small, start-up companies.
According to the current industrial directory, printing and publishing is the state’s largest industrial sector, accounting for 42,887 of the state’s jobs or 21% of the state, down 2.6% over the past twelve months. Electronics manufacturing accounts for another 23,677 industrial jobs, up 1.6% over the year with the expansion of Salisbury-based Harvard Custom Manufacturing. Third-ranked industrial machinery and equipment manufacturing employs 19,876 Maryland/DC workers, and is up 3.2%.
Other sectors gaining jobs include textiles/apparel, up 5.5% due partially to the continued growth of Under Armour a Baltimore-based sportswear manufacturer. Fabricated metal products were up 4.2% and food products, up 1% after Allen Family Foods expanded its poultry processing plant in Hurlock. Sectors losing jobs include lumber/wood, down 3.5%; chemicals and allied products, down 4.3% and rubber and miscellaneous plastic products, down 4.4%. Transportation equipment was down 13% after Rayloc, Inc. closed its remanufactured auto parts plant in Hancock and Brunswick Corp. closed its Salisbury boat making plant.
According to MNI, Central Maryland, which includes the District of Columbia, accounts for the most industrial employment in the region, with 162,417 jobs, or nearly 80%, with no significant change reported over the past 12 months. Western Maryland represents 22,965 of the state’s jobs, down 1.8% or 415 jobs, while Eastern Maryland is home to 19,780 of the state’s workers, with no change reported over the survey period.
MNI’s city data shows Baltimore manufacturers employ 39,722 of the region’s industrial workers, down 302 jobs or 1% over the past 12 months. Washington, D.C. accounts for 18,814 jobs, down 5.4% or 1,070 from a year ago. Linthicum ranks third in the region with 7,655 industrial workers, with no significant change reported over the year. Frederick accounts for 6,099 jobs, with no change over the past twelve months, while fifth-ranked Hagerstown saw industrial employment drop just a half percent over the year and currently accounts for 6,510 jobs.
Detailed profiles of Maryland’s 5,469 manufacturers and 838 industrial distributors can be found in the 2009 Maryland/D.C. Manufacturers Directory, available in print for $99 and on CD-ROM from $153. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), names and titles of 16,575 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.
"Having tools available, such as MNI Directories, takes the guesswork out of sales. In a world of information, MNI Directories deliver useful, no-nonsense critical profiling data." John W. Cottington, President/CEO, Cottington Company, Inc. - Alexandria, MN
