Michigan Lost 43,000 Manufacturing Jobs According To Industrial Directory - March 27, 2009
Contact: Jennifer Ratcliff Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (847) 864-9440 ext. 241 jratcliff [at] manufacturersnews.com
EVANSTON, Ill, March 30, 2009/Manufacturers’ News, Inc./-- Industrial employment in Michigan fell 5.5% over the past twelve months according to the 2009 Michigan Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Michigan lost 42,874 industrial jobs from January 2008 to January 2009, continuing the steep losses the state has suffered over the past several years.
Manufacturers’ News reports Michigan is home to 15,532 manufacturers employing 736,888 workers.
“The recession continues to chip away at Michigan’s auto industry, and 2008 has been one of the worst years for the state in terms of manufacturing losses,” says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. “However, increasing demand for emerging and “green” technologies is beginning to spur potential investments.”
Start-up companies such as Great Lakes Towers, a wind turbine manufacturer and Greenblendz, a manufacturer of “green” cleaning chemicals are considering locating in Michigan and United Solar Ovanic is investing in a new solar cell manufacturing plant in Battle Creek, according to government reports.
MNI reports nearly half of the state’s losses were felt in the auto industry, which tallied a loss of 19,382 jobs or 10.4% over the year due to continuing layoffs and closings at Ford, GM and Chrysler. MNI reports the auto industry currently accounts for 166,537 of the state’s industrial jobs. The Big Three’s losses triggered layoffs and closings at many Michigan auto suppliers such as Alma Products, Tower Automotive, Lear Corp, Dura Automotive and Johnson Controls, just to name a few.
Industrial machinery and equipment is the state’s second largest industry, with 134,902 manufacturing jobs, down 8,541 or 6% in 2008. Third-ranked fabricated metal products account for 97,068 jobs, down 5,593 or 5.4%, according to MNI. Many companies in these sectors would also be suppliers to the auto industry.
Non-auto industries didn’t fare much better in 2008 with Michigan’s job losses spread across most sectors and included stone/clay and glass products, down 7.8%; primary metals down 4.8% and chemicals were down 4.3%, following layoffs at Pfizer. Rubber and plastics were down 3.2%; printing/publishing down 2.5%; lumber/wood down 2.3%; furniture/fixtures down 1.5%; and food products down a half percent. Employment remained steady in both the paper and electronics sectors, according to MNI.
Manufacturers’ News reports Southeast Michigan accounts for 442,111 of the state’s jobs, or 60% of Michigan’s industrial employment, down 5.2% or 24,464 jobs over the year. Southwest Michigan represents 223,501 of the state’s industrial jobs, down 3.5% over the past twelve months. Northwest Michigan is home to 32,247 of the state’s workers, down 14% in 2008, while the Northeast saw jobs drop 8% and currently accounts for 20,271 industrial workers. The Upper Peninsula accounts for 16,158, down 1.1%.
Grand Rapids is home to the most industrial jobs in Michigan, accounting for 46,657 jobs, down 6.1% over the year. Detroit accounts for 43,317 jobs, down another 6%. Industrial jobs in Auburn Hills have dropped 5% over the year with the city accounting for 23,211 jobs. Fourth-ranked Warren accounts for 17,855 of the state’s jobs, down 7%, while Livonia is home to 16,891 industrial workers, with employment down 4.5%.
Detailed profiles of Michigan’s 15,532 manufacturers and 1,611 industrial distributors can be found in the 2009 Michigan Manufacturers Directory, available in print for $181 and on CD-ROM from $263. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 46,332 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.
"I have been given a list of SIC codes from one manufacturer that I intend to work with and have been going through the Illinois Directory to find more places to call. This has been a big help to me getting my business off the ground." David Yurik, President, Result Sales Location - Glenview, IL
