Manufacturers Directory Reports South Dakota Industrial Jobs Up Over Year

Contact: Jennifer Ratcliff
Manufacturers’ News, Inc.
(847) 864-9440 ext. 241
jratcliff [at] manufacturersnews.com



EVANSTON, Ill, January 5th, 2009/Manufacturers’ News, Inc./--Industrial employment in South Dakota increased 1.1% over the past twelve months, according to the 2009 South Dakota Manufacturers Register, a compilation of state industry published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI (http://www.manufacturersnews.com) reports South Dakota gained 588 industrial jobs from October 2007 to October 2008, continuing the increases the state has enjoyed over the past several years.

According to earlier MNI reports, South Dakota saw a 1.6% increase in industrial jobs between October 2006 to 2007, and a 3% gain over MNI’s 2005-2006 survey period.

“While most other states have been losing manufacturing jobs to technology, automation and outsourcing, South Dakota’s natural resources and its favorable business climate have helped the state increase exports and retain industrial facilities,” says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing firm, which has been surveying industrial sectors since 1912.

Recent government reports state South Dakota’s exports to world markets increased 125% from 2003 to 2007--the fifth largest percentage gain in the nation.

According to Manufacturers’ News, South Dakota is home to 1,458 manufacturers employing 51,785 workers. MNI profiles manufacturers of all sizes, including small, start-up companies with just a few employees.

MNI reports food products manufacturing is the state’s largest sector by employment, accounting for 8,719 of the state’s jobs, down 1.6% over the year. Industrial machinery and equipment ranks second, with 7,666 jobs, down a half percent, while third-ranked lumber and wood products employs 4,253, down nearly 1% over the past twelve months.

Other sectors to lose jobs include furniture/fixtures, down 14%; stone, clay and glass, down 6.8%; transportation equipment, down 2.3%; rubber and miscellaneous plastics, down 1.2% and printing/publishing, down a half percent.

Sectors gaining jobs include chemicals and allied products, up 12.5%; textiles/apparel, up 6.8%; paper/allied products, up 3.8%; fabricated metals, up 6.3% with the expansion of Adams Thermal Systems, among others, and electronics, up 1.4%. Employment in signs and advertising specialties increased 16% following production increases at electronic scoreboard manufacturer Daktronics.

According to the 2009 Register, the eastern part of the state accounts for the majority of South Dakota’s industrial employment with the Southeast at 53% or 27,518 jobs, down 1% over the year and the Northeast at 33% or 17,320 jobs, up 6% over the year. South Dakota’s southwestern section accounts for 10% of the state or 5,188 industrial jobs, down 1.4 percent since November 2007 while Northwest South Dakota accounts for 1,759 jobs or 3.4% of the state, down 5.3% over the year.

MNI’s city data shows Sioux Falls is the state’s industrial capital with 12,908 industrial jobs, with no significant change reported over the year. Second-ranked Brookings accounts for 6,070 of the state’s manufacturing jobs, up 13% over the past twelve months, while third-ranked Rapid City reported a loss of 2.1% and currently accounts for 4,549 of the state’s jobs. Yankton is home to 3,342 workers, up 3.1%, while Watertown is home to 3,280 of the state’s industrial jobs, up 1.2%, following the expansion of Angus Industries.

Detailed profiles of South Dakota’s 1,496 manufacturers and 191 industrial distributors can be found in the 2009 South Dakota Manufacturers Register, available in print for $71and on CD-ROM from $86. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), names and titles of 4,853 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 manufacturer profiles, statistics and databases for all 50 states. In addition, MNI 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.