Industrial Directory Reports Colorado Manufacturers Lost 3,000 Jobs, 113 Plants Since May 2006; Denver Ranks 9th In Nation For Factories

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 –Colorado’s manufacturing employment dropped 1.4% over the past 12 months according to the 2008 Colorado Manufacturers Directory, an industrial guide published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI (http://www.manufacturersnews.com) reports Colorado lost 3,049 manufacturing jobs and 113 manufacturers since May 2006.

“Even though productivity and output may be at an all-time high, U.S. manufacturing employment is either stagnant or declining,” says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based business information firm. “Industries that are labor dependent will inevitably locate in countries with low wages. The plants that remain in the US tend to rely on automation and technology, therefore the manufacturing process requires fewer workers.”

MNI reports Colorado’s losses are partially due to small companies shutting down. 61% of the state’s manufacturers ceasing operations over the past year employed five or fewer workers. Current data indicates 48% of manufacturers in Colorado employ 5 or fewer workers, compared to the national average of 34%. MNI also identified 11 companies that left Colorado for other states in 2006.

Manufacturers’ News reports Colorado is home to 7,298 manufacturers employing 210,291 workers. MNI surveys both large and small manufacturers, including small start-up companies with just a few employees.

Denver is Colorado’s top industrial employer accounting for 21.2% of the state’s manufacturing employment or 44,658 jobs, and is home to 1,549 plants. Denver ranks among the top 50 cities in the U.S. by number of manufacturers, ranking 9th in the nation for number of plants and 32nd for related jobs. MNI reports Denver lost 45 manufacturers since May 2006 and industrial employment dropped by 9% or 4,398 jobs over this period.

Colorado Springs accounts for 21,753 manufacturing jobs or 10.3% of the state, and is home to 573 manufacturers. Englewood ranks 3rd with 16,118 jobs and 343 plants, while fourth-ranked Littleton represents 9,749 of the state’s jobs and 160 plants. Boulder is home to 351 manufacturers employing 9,396.

The electronic and electrical equipment sector accounts for the most industrial employment in Colorado, representing 23,426 jobs or 11.1% of the state’s manufacturing jobs, with communications equipment accounting for 6,890. MNI reports 4,971 jobs were lost in this sector over the past 12 months. Printing and publishing accounts for the most manufacturing plants and the second most jobs with 1,110 manufacturers employing 22,563, down 2,234 jobs since May 2006. The food sector employs 21,952 and represents 426 manufacturers. 965 of the state’s manufacturers produce industrial machinery and equipment and employ 20,721 workers, up 1,706 from twelve months ago.

Sub-sectors adding jobs over the year include computer storage devices, up 2,007 jobs. Surgical appliances and supplies were up 735 jobs, while radio and TV communications and equipment added 600 jobs, according to MNI.

MNI’s regional analysis shows Colorado ranks 20th in the nation for manufacturing plants, and 27th for jobs, and accounts for 25% of the Mountain Plains’ manufacturers and 18.5% of the region’s jobs. Northeast Colorado accounts for the largest share of the region’s manufacturing jobs, with 136,254 jobs or 64.7% of the state’s industrial employment. Northwest Colorado accounts for 60,474 jobs or 28.7%. The Southwest accounts for 7,340 jobs or 3.5% while the Southeast accounts for 6,226 or 3%.

Detailed profiles of Colorado’s 7,298 manufacturers and 586 industrial distributors can be found in the 2008 Colorado Manufacturers Directory, available in print for $106 and on CD-ROM from $166. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), names and titles of 16,652 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 produces 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.