EVANSTON, Ill., Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Following several years of significant losses, industrial employment in Idaho was little changed over the past year with the state posting only a slight decline, according to the 2012 Idaho Manufacturers Directory®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Idaho lost 657 manufacturing jobs over the past year, or less than one percent, from October 2010 to October 2011.
Manufacturers' News reports Idaho is now home to 2,184 manufacturers employing 73,209 workers.
"The recovery is gaining momentum in Idaho 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's educated workforce and business friendly environment have been a draw for a variety of enterprises."
Bright spots for the state include Chobani's announcement that it will open a yogurt plant in Twin Falls in 2012, creating approximately 400 jobs. J.R. Simplot plans a potato processing plant in Caldwell and Oregon Potato Co. announced it would open a dehydrated potato processing facility in Heyburn.
MNI reports industrial machinery and equipment remains Idaho's largest industrial sector by employment with 15,331 jobs, down 1% over the year. Food products manufacturing ranks second and accounts for 15,163 jobs, down 2.5%. Third-ranked lumber/wood represents 8,868 of the state's jobs, down 2.2% over the past twelve months.
Other sectors that lost jobs included textiles/apparel, down 5.8%; transportation equipment, down 3.2%; and printing/publishing, down 1.2%. Gains were seen in chemicals, up 9.7%; instruments/related products, up 2.4%; and primary metals, up 1.5%.
Industrial locations announcing closures included XL Four Star Beef's processing plant in Nampa; Boise Cascade's laminated beam production facility in Emmett; and wind turbine manufacturer Nordic Windpower's site in Pocatello.
According to the industrial directory, Southwest Idaho accounts for the largest share of the state's manufacturing employment with 40,810 manufacturing jobs, down 1%. Southeast Idaho ranks second at 17,944 manufacturing jobs, down 1.8%. Northern Idaho is home to 14,455 industrial jobs, with no significant change reported over the year.
According to MNI, Boise remains the state's top city for manufacturing employment, with 21,622 jobs, up 2.1% over the year. Nampa ranks second with 5,793 jobs, down 9.4%. Idaho Falls saw jobs decrease 1.7%, with the third-ranked city now home to 4,223 industrial jobs. Industrial employment in Lewiston decreased 1.3% over the year with the fourth-ranked city accounting for 3,246 jobs, while Pocatello is home to 2,977, down 2.3% over the past twelve months.
Detailed profiles of Idaho's 2,184 manufacturers and 376 industrial distributors can be found in the 2012 Idaho Manufacturers Directory®, available in print for $88 and on CD-ROM from $113. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 7,468 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.
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.
SOURCE Manufacturers' News, Inc.
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