Contact: Jennifer Ratcliff
Manufacturers’ News, Inc.
(847) 864-9440 ext. 241
jratcliff [at] manufacturersnews.com
EVANSTON, Ill, September 2, 2008/Manufacturers’ News, Inc./-- Industrial employment in Missouri dropped 3% over the past 12 months according to the 2009 Missouri Manufacturers Register, a compilation of state industry published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. The Register reports Missouri lost 12,325 industrial jobs from July 2007 to July 2008, continuing the decline the state has seen over the past few years.
According to earlier MNI reports, Missouri’s industrial employment declined by 1% between July 2005 and July 2006, and then posted another drop of 3.8% over the 06-07 survey year.
“As with the entire nation, Missouri’s industrial employment is suffering due to automation, mergers and outsourcing,” says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912.
Manufacturers’ News reports Missouri is home to 9,117 manufacturers employing 406,135 workers. Missouri’s losses are in line with states across the Midwest and Mid-South, with Illinois’ industrial employment down 1.5%; Kentucky’s down 2.3%; Arkansas’ down 2.8% and Tennessee’s down 4%, according to earlier MNI reports.
According to the 2009 Register, the transportation equipment sector accounts for the most industrial jobs in the state with 55,492 listed in the new edition, down 4% over the year. Food products manufacturing accounts for 53,969 jobs, down 2.6% over the past twelve months, due partially to the closure of two Willow Brooks turkey processing plants in Springfield. The industrial machinery and equipment sector accounts for 45,624 jobs with no significant employment change reported over the year.
Other sectors losing jobs include chemicals and allied products, down 2.2% and textiles/apparel, down 3.1%. Employment in electronics manufacturing was down 4.2% following layoffs at 3M’s Columbia facility. Jobs in fabricated metal manufacturing were down 4.9%; printing and publishing was down 6%, and primary metals manufacturing was down 7.5%, due in part to DURA Automotive’s closure of its Hannibal plant.
According to the industrial directory, East Central Missouri accounts for 43% of the state’s industrial employment, with 173,523 jobs, down just 1,411 or less than one percent over the past twelve months. Northwest Missouri accounts for 101,209 jobs, down 3,894 jobs or 3.7% over the year. Southwest Missouri is home to 58,022 workers, down 1,782 or 3%, while the Northeast region of the state accounts for 30,618 jobs, down 5% or 1,620. Southeast Missouri represents 24,591 of the state’s jobs, down 2.7%. Industrial employment in South Central Missouri is down the most, having shed 2,936 industrial jobs or 14% and is currently home to 18,173 workers.
MNI’s city data shows St. Louis is Missouri’s industrial capital with 90,366 of the state’s jobs, down 1.1% over the year. MNI reports St. Louis ranks among the top industrial cities in the US, at 8th in the nation for number of industrial jobs and manufacturers. Kansas City ranks second in the state with 43,481 jobs, down 3.3% over the past twelve months. Springfield is home to 17,880 Missouri workers, down 3.2%, while St. Joseph accounts for 10,095 industrial jobs, with no significant change reported over the year. Fenton is home to 8,766 industrial jobs, down 20% over the past twelve months due to the closure of two Chrysler truck plants.
Detailed profiles of Missouri’s 9,117 manufacturers and 1,214 industrial distributors can be found in the 2009 Missouri Manufacturers Register, available in print for $129 and on CD-ROM from $191. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), names and titles of 29,174 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.
