Contact: Jennifer Ratcliff
Manufacturers’ News, Inc.
(847) 864-9440 ext. 241
jratcliff [at] manufacturersnews.com
EVANSTON, Ill, May 18, 2009/Manufacturers’ News, Inc./-- Industrial employment in Kansas fell 3.2% over the past twelve months according to the 2009 Kansas Manufacturers Directory, an industrial guide published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Kansas lost 7,490 industrial jobs and 44 manufacturers between March 2008 and March 2009, the first time MNI has reported a loss for the state.
“As with the entire nation, weakening demand continues to hit many of Kansas’ core sectors,” says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. “MNI had previously reported net increases in Kansas’ industrial employment, but gains earned over the past few years have been largely erased by losses weathered by the state during the recession.”
The Directory reported a 1% gain in employment between 2005 and 2006, an increase of 2.1% between 2006 and 2007, and a 1.5% rise over the 2007-2008 survey period.
Manufacturers’ News reports Kansas is home to 4,790 manufacturers employing 227,333 workers. MNI profiles companies of all sizes including start-up companies with just a few employees.
Transportation equipment remains the state’s largest sector by employment with 52,995 of Kansas’ industrial jobs, or nearly a quarter of the state, with employment down 6% over the year following layoffs at aerospace companies such as Boeing and Hawker Beechcraft. The food products sector follows with 33,381 jobs, down 2.3%, due partially to layoffs at Tyson meats. Third-ranked industrial machinery and equipment employs 25,823 workers, down 5.4% over the year.
Job losses were seen across most other sectors over the past twelve months and included rubber/plastics down 7.8%; lumber/wood down 6%; printing/publishing down 4.2%; primary metals down 3.5%; electronics down 3.2%; stone/clay/glass down 2.1%; paper products down 1.9% and chemicals down 1.5%.
Employment remained steady in the furniture/fixtures sectors while fabricated metal manufacturing saw employment increase 2.4%, partially thanks to the expansion of Haas Metal Engineering in Topeka. Other bright spots include Siemens Energy’s plans to open a wind turbine equipment plant in Hutchinson and increased hiring at plastic bag manufacturer Envision.
Manufacturers’ News reports Southeast Kansas accounts for over half of the state’s decline, losing 4.1% of its manufacturing employment or 4,743 jobs. The region is currently home to 110,003 industrial workers. Northeast Kansas lost 3,202 jobs over the year or 3.3% and currently accounts for 93,075 industrial jobs. Southwest Kansas is currently home to 17,083 jobs, down 3.2% over the past twelve months.
Northwest Kansas lost the fewest jobs, down 1.1%, and is currently home to 7,147 industrial workers.
MNI’s city data shows Wichita is the state’s top city for manufacturing employment and ranks 13th nationally for number of industrial jobs. Wichita is currently home to 64,280 jobs, down 4.6% over the year. Kansas City accounts for 13,633 jobs, down 4.1% over the year. Lenexa is home to 9,601 jobs, down 3.1%, while Topeka’s industrial employment remained steady, with the city currently accounting for 9,066 jobs. Fifth-ranked Olathe is home to 7,960 industry jobs, with no significant change reported over the year.
Detailed profiles of Kansas’ 4,790 manufacturers and 721 industrial distributors can be found in the 2009 Kansas Manufacturers Directory, available in print for $101 and on CD-ROM from $155. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 16,192 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.
