Montana Manufacturers' Directory Reports Industrial Employment Up Despite Plant Losses

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—For the second year in a row, Montana manufacturing employment has grown, according to the 2007 Montana Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI), Evanston, IL. MNI (http://www.manufacturersnews.com) reports over the past 12 months, Montana gained another 274 manufacturing jobs despite the loss of 41 plants.

Montana is now home to 2,321 manufacturing companies employing 36,418 workers, reports the Directory. MNI’s survey profiles both large and small Montana manufacturers, including start-up companies with just a few employees.

“Montana has defied the national trend by adding manufacturing jobs over the past few years,” said Tom Dubin, President of MNI. “This resource-rich state promotes industries such as lumber products that can’t easily be outsourced. Hopefully the 4.6% gain the state has seen since 2004 will continue despite the plant losses.”

According to the 2007 edition Billings remains Montana’s industrial leader with 299 companies employing 5,843 workers. Missoula accounts for 216 jobs and 3,152 jobs, while Kalispell ranks third with 172 companies and 3,147 jobs. These three cities account for 29% of Montana’s manufacturing plants and 34% of its industrial employment.

According to the 2007 Directory, Montana’s top industrial sector is lumber and wood products, accounting for 15% of the state’s industrial plants. Montana’s largest sectors by employment are sawmills, newspapers, semiconductors and related devices, and metal ores. These industries represent 8,239 jobs, or 23% of Montana’s manufacturing employment

Detailed information on all of Montana’s 2,321 companies can be found in the 2007 Montana Manufacturers Directory, available in print for $80. The 272-page Directory provides an in-depth company profile of up to 30 facts, including addresses, phone/fax numbers, web/email addresses, product(s) manufactured, names and titles of key executives, area of distribution, annual sales, number of employees, brand names, year established and more.

MNI’s Montana data is also available on CD-ROM for $101 to $289. Users may select manufacturing companies using thirteen different criteria, including area or zip code, county, SIC, sales volume, number of employees, title and more. This information can be downloaded at http://www.mnileads.com

Manufacturers’ News, Inc., Evanston, Illinois, 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.