Oregon Manufacturing Jobs Increase Half Percent Over Year Reports 2008 Industrial Guide

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, Dec. 17, 2007/Manufacturers’ News, Inc/--Oregon manufacturing employment increased by a half percent over the past twelve months according to the 2008 Oregon Manufacturers Directory, a manufacturers guide published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI (http://www.manufacturersnews.com) reports since October 2006 Oregon gained 1,103 industrial jobs—a smaller growth compared to the 1.3% increase MNI reported for the state a year ago, but still ahead of the national average.

MNI reports many surrounding states shared similar employment gains to Oregon’s, with Wyoming manufacturing employment up 3%, Nevada’s up 1.4% and Idaho’s up 1.3% over the past 12 months. According to earlier MNI reports, manufacturing employment in the Western and Plains states has mostly increased over the past few years, contrary to the employment losses felt in the rest of the country.

“Oregon’s plentiful natural resources provide some immunity to the outsourcing that has cost the country so many manufacturing jobs,” says 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 6.6% increase, or an additional 1,761 jobs since October 2006 and accounts for 28,431 jobs and 561 plants. The lumber and wood sector accounts for the most manufacturing jobs in Oregon, representing 16.8% of the state’s industrial employment, or 40,466 jobs. MNI reports employment has remained steady in this sector. Electronics and electronic equipment accounts for 32,925 jobs or 13.7% of the state, with employment up a half-percent over the past 12 months. .

Manufacturers’ News reports Oregon is now home to 6,237 manufacturers employing 240,160 workers. MNI profiles both large and small Oregon manufacturers, including start-up companies with just a few employees.

MNI’s study shows Oregon ranks 26th in the nation for manufacturing plants and 30th for related jobs. Oregon accounts for 11.3% of the West’s manufacturers and 8.6% of the region’s jobs.

Northwest Oregon accounts for the majority of the state’s industrial employment at 70% or 169,868 jobs, with no significant gains or losses reported over the year. Southwest Oregon accounts for 22% of the state’s industrial employment or 53,011 jobs, up 1.5% over the year. Southeast Oregon accounts for 4.1% of the state or 9,972 industrial jobs, down a half percent since October 2006 while Northeast Oregon accounts for 7,307 jobs, up a half percent over the year.

MNI’s city data shows Portland is home to the most industrial jobs, representing 21.2% of the state’s manufacturing employment, or 50,919 jobs, down a half percent from October 2006, and accounts for 1,343 manufacturers. MNI reports Portland ranks 16th in the nation for number of manufacturers and 27th in the nation for number of jobs.

Hillsboro ranks second in the state with 24,499 jobs, with no significant change reported over the year, and is home to 179 manufacturers. Beaverton ranks third with 16,334 jobs and 177 plants, up 3.7% over the year. Fourth-ranked Eugene accounts for 13,867 jobs, up 2.9% over the year and is home to 406 manufacturers. Fifth-ranked Salem accounts for 8,109 jobs and 274 manufacturers, down a half percent since October 2006.

Detailed profiles of Oregon’s 6,237 manufacturing companies and 603 distributors can be found in the 2008 Oregon Manufacturers Directory, available in print for $100 and on CD-ROM from $159. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), names and titles of 17,751 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.