Industrial Directory Reports South Dakota Manufacturing Jobs Up 1.6% Over The Year

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, Ill, Jan. 7th, 2008/Manufacturers’ News, Inc/--South Dakota’s manufacturing employment increased 1.6% over the past twelve months according to the 2008 South Dakota Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI (http://www.manufacturersnews.com) reports that since November 2006 South Dakota gained 851 industrial jobs—a smaller growth compared to the 3% increase MNI reported for the state a year ago, but still ahead of the national average.

MNI reports South Dakota’s employment gain falls in the middle when compared with neighboring states. According to earlier MNI reports, North Dakota saw a half percent drop and Minnesota’s industrial employment fell 1.7%. Iowa and Wyoming’s manufacturing employment increased 2.6% and 3%, respectively.

“South Dakota’s plentiful natural resources provide some immunity to the outsourcing that has cost the country so many manufacturing jobs,” said Thomas Dubin, President of Manufacturers’ News. “The state’s lumber and food industries provide a solid base of jobs that are resource-dependent as opposed to the labor-dependent jobs that continue to leave the country.”

The food products sector has seen the largest employment jump over the year, posting a 2.4% increase, or an additional 212 jobs since November 2006 and accounts for 8,857 jobs or 17.3% of the state. The prepared meats sub-sector accounts for 43% of these jobs or 3,784, with employment up 150 jobs or 4.1% over the year. Industrial machinery and equipment represent another 7,694 jobs or 15% of the state, up 2.3% over the year. Construction machinery and equipments accounts for 30% of these jobs, up 5.6% since November 2006. The lumber and wood sector accounts for 4,289 jobs, up 3.2% over the year.

Losses were seen in the transportation equipment sector, or 1.7% over the year, although motor vehicle parts and accessories are up 106 jobs or 7.2%.

Manufacturers’ News reports South Dakota is now home to 1,496 manufacturers employing 51,208 workers, ranking 45th in the nation for manufacturing plants and 44th for related jobs. South Dakota accounts for 1.4% of the Midwest’s plants and 1% of the region’s jobs. MNI profiles both large and small South Dakota manufacturers, including start-up companies with just a few employees.

The eastern part of the state accounts for the majority of South Dakota’s industrial employment with the Southeast at 54% or 27,749 jobs, up 2.7% over the year and the Northeast at 32% or 16,341 jobs, up 1.7% over the year. South Dakota’s southwestern section accounts for 10% of the state or 5,261 industrial jobs, down 1.7 percent since November 2006 while Northwest South Dakota accounts for 1,857 jobs or 3.6% of the state, down 70 jobs or 3.6% percent over the year.

MNI’s city data shows Sioux Falls is home to the most industrial jobs, representing 25% of the state’s manufacturing employment, or 13,132 jobs, and 242 plants, with no significant employment change reported for the year. Brookings accounts for 5,356 industrial jobs, up 5.7% over the year, and is home to 43 manufacturers. Rapid City ranks third with 4,646 workers, down 1.7% over the year, home to 163 manufacturers. Fourth-ranked Watertown accounts for 80 companies employing 3,240, down 531 jobs over the year, while Yankton accounts for 44 manufacturers and 3,241 jobs, with employment up 366 since November 2006.

Detailed profiles of South Dakota’s 1,496 manufacturing companies and 88 distributors can be found in the 2008 South Dakota Manufacturers Register, available in print for $71 and on CD-ROM from $86. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), names and titles of 4,245 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.