Pennsylvania Manufacturing Jobs Remained Steady Over Past Year According To Industrial Directory

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




EVANSTON, Ill, August 3rd, 2011 /Manufacturers’ News, Inc./-- Industrial employment in Pennsylvania remained virtually unchanged over the past twelve months according to the 2012 Pennsylvania Manufacturers Register®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Pennsylvania lost just 2,590 industrial jobs or less than one percent between June 2010 and June 2011, a much smaller loss compared to the 3.3% drop recorded by MNI over the 2009-2010 survey period, and the 127,000 manufacturing jobs lost between June 2005 and June 2010.

Manufacturers’ News reports Pennsylvania is now home to 17,758 manufacturers employing 808,670 workers.

“The recovery is gaining momentum in Pennsylvania and across the U.S.,” says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. “The state boasts an educated workforce, and its investments in innovative technologies continue to pay off.”

Bright spots for Pennsylvania included the planned expansions of Menasha Packaging in Yukon and Sapa Extrusions in Cressona; the opening of Pennsy Supply Inc.’s asphalt plant in Harrisburg; and the establishment of a new Colonial Snacks facility in Hanover Industrial Estates.

MNI reports Pennsylvania’s largest manufacturing sectors experienced little to no change in employment over the survey period. Industrial machinery and equipment accounts for the most manufacturing employment with 92,646 jobs, little changed from a year ago. Fabricated metals ranks second with 85,227 jobs, virtually unchanged since June 2010. Jobs in third-ranked food products manufacturing fell 1.3%, with the sector currently accounting for 85,227 industrial jobs.

Industrial sectors that lost jobs over the year included furniture/fixtures, down 7.5%; textiles/apparel, down 6.8%; transportation equipment, down 5%; stone/clay/glass down 4.3%; and lumber/wood, down 4.2%. Gains were seen in chemicals, up 2.5% and primary metals, up 2.2%, while all other sectors remained unchanged.

Companies closing down included Ingersoll Rand’s plant in Athens; camping trailer manufacturer FTCA’s plant in Somerset Township; Yorktowne Cabinetry’s facility in Red Lion; Excel Storage Products’ facility in East Stroudsburg; and Owens Illinois’ glass plant in Clarion.

Manufacturers’ News reports Southeast Pennsylvania accounts for the largest share of the state’s industrial employment, with 342,610 jobs, down 1% over the year. Southwest Pennsylvania accounts for 183,015 jobs, up a half percent, while Central Pennsylvania is home to 120,420 industrial workers, also up a half percent. Northwest Pennsylvania accounts for 105,938 of the state’s industrial jobs, virtually unchanged from a year ago, while Northeast Pennsylvania is home to 56,687 jobs, down 3.8% over the past twelve months.

MNI’s city data shows Philadelphia is the state’s top city for manufacturing employment, home to 45,361 jobs, down 1% over the year. Second-ranked Pittsburgh accounts for 34,735 jobs, with no significant change reported over the year. York is home to 22,286 industrial jobs, down 1.5%, while Lancaster accounts for 18,224 jobs, up 1%. Allentown is home to 17,555 industrial jobs, down 1.4% over the past twelve months.

Detailed profiles of Pennsylvania’s 17,758 manufacturers and 2,510 industrial distributors can be found in the 2012 Pennsylvania Manufacturers Register®, available in print for $209 and on CD-ROM from $285. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 60,786 executives by name and title, product(s) manufactured, annual sales, number of employees, and more. Visitors to mnileads.com may generate custom profiles of manufacturers using thirteen different criteria, including area or zip code, county, SIC, sales volume, number of employees, and more. Information is also available on facebook and twitter.

Manufacturers’ News, Inc., publisher of manufacturers’ directories since 1912, compiles and produces manufacturing guides, statistics and databases for all 50 states. MNI also 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.