Indiana Manufacturing Jobs Down 2.4% In 2006 According To State Industrial Directory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Ratcliff
Manufacturers’ News, Inc.
1633 Central St.
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-9440 ext. 241
jratcliff [at] manufacturersnews.com


EVANSTON, IL –Indiana lost 17,108 manufacturing jobs over the past twelve months according to the 2007 Indiana Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI (http://www.manufacturersnews.com) reports Indiana lost 2.4% manufacturing employment since March 2006, continuing the downward trend the state has seen since 2000.

“Indiana’s job losses echo those seen across the Midwest,” said Tom Dubin, President of MNI. “Rust Belt manufacturers continue to be lured by cheaper labor costs overseas, particularly in China. Production cuts in the automotive sectors account for much of the plant closings and layoffs as suppliers to the big three automakers struggle to keep their facilities profitable.”

The automotive industry remains Indiana’s top industrial employer, accounting for 12% of the state’s manufacturing employment, down 11,174 jobs or 12% from last year. Plastic products represent 5%, while third-ranked steel works and blast furnaces account for another 3.6%. The pharmaceutical industry, which represents 19,034 industrial jobs in Indiana, was one of the few sectors to add jobs in 2006, posting a 2.3% increase over the past 12 months.

Major cuts to the automotive sector include the closings of a Delphi and a Guide Corp plant, both located in Anderson. Madison County’s industrial employment dropped by 40% as a result, and contributed to the large employment drop seen in the East Central part of the state.

Manufacturers’ News reports Indiana is now home to 11,399 manufacturing companies employing 676,851 workers. MNI profiles both large and small Indiana manufacturers, including start-up companies with just a few employees.

MNI’s regional study shows Indiana ranks 11th in the nation for manufacturing plants, but 8th in the US for manufacturing jobs, accounting for 3.5% of the nation’s manufacturing employment. Indiana manufacturers employ an average of 60 employees per plant compared to the national average of 45 per plant. 3.2% of the state’s manufacturers employ 250 to 500 employees, compared to the US average of 2.2%. Indiana ranks 5th in the Midwest for number of manufacturers and 4th for related jobs, accounting for 10.4% of the region’s manufacturers and 12.3% of its jobs. Other Midwestern states suffered sharp drops in manufacturing employment last year with Illinois losing 2.7% employment and Michigan losing 2.3%, according to earlier MNI releases.

Northeast Indiana accounts for the most manufacturing activity with 27% or 181,321 of the state’s jobs. East Central Indiana accounts for 26.5% of the state’s manufacturing jobs and ranks as the region that lost the most jobs at 5.1%. MNI data shows Northwest Indiana accounts for 15.3% of the state’s jobs, the Southwest accounts for 12.3%, the Southeast 10.4% and West Central Indiana, 8.5%.

Indianapolis is the state’s top industrial employer, representing 14% of the state’s manufacturing employment, or 92,588 jobs, down 1.5% from March 2006. Indianapolis ranks 8th in the nation for manufacturing employment and 4th in the Midwest.

Elkhart ranks second in the state with 32,388 jobs and 567 plants, down 3.5% from last year. Fort Wayne ranks third with 590 plants and 28,308 jobs, while fourth-ranked Evansville accounts for 20,649 jobs and 380 plants. Columbus represents 19,276 of the state’s jobs and 140 of its plants. MNI data shows Fort Wayne industrial employment dropped 4.2% over the past twelve months and Evansville dropped 7.9% after job cuts were made by the city’s Whirlpool plant and its major supplier, Collis, Inc.

Detailed profiles of Indiana’s 11,399 companies can be found in the 2007 Indiana Manufacturers Directory, available in print for $134 and on CD-ROM from $251. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), names and titles of 36,535 key executives, product(s) manufactured, annual sales, number of employees, and more. Visitors to http://www.mnileads.com may generate custom company selections 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 distributes manufacturing guides, statistics and databases for all 50 states. For more information, contact Manufacturers’ News, Inc., 1633 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60201, 847-864-7000, FAX 847-332-1100.