Industrial Directory Reports Montana Manufacturing Jobs Increased 2.3% Over The Past Year

EVANSTON, Ill., Sept. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Manufacturing employment in Montana increased 2.3% over the past year according to the 2013 Montana Manufacturers Directory^®, an industrial guide published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Montana gained 688 industrial jobs between July 2011 and July 2012.

Manufacturers' News reports Montana is now home to 1,924 manufacturers employing 29,779 workers.

"Montana continues to see its manufacturing sector improve," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "The state's business-friendly environment and abundant natural resources have helped boost exports and encourage hiring."

Bright spots for the state included the announcement that Montana's exports hit an all-time record high of $1.6 billion in 2011, increasing 13.4% over the last record set in 2008. In addition, defense manufacturer Blackhawk Products announced it will open a facility in Manhattan, and EGT, LLC will build a new shuttle train loader in Carter.

MNI reports lumber/wood remains Montana's largest industrial sector by employment with 3,723 jobs, down 2% over the year. Second-ranked printing/publishing accounts for 2,930 jobs, down 3.3%. Food products manufacturing ranks third with 2,656 industrial jobs, with no significant change reported. 

Employment gains were seen in transportation equipment, up 8.2%; instruments/related products, up 8.1%; fabricated metals, up 7.1%; chemicals, up 4.8%; and oil/gas extraction, up 1.1%. Losses were seen in furniture/fixtures, down 8.7%; industrial machinery and equipment, down 2.4%; and stone/clay/glass, down 1%.  

Manufacturers' News reports Northwest Montana accounts for 11,797 industrial jobs, up one percent over the year. The Southeast region is home to 8,582 manufacturing jobs, up 6.6%, while Southwest Montana is home to 7,502, down 1.9%. Northeast Montana accounts for 1,898 industrial jobs, up 5.2% over the past twelve months. 

MNI's city data shows Billings is Montana's top city for manufacturing employment, home to 4,684 jobs, up 5.1% over the year. Second-ranked Missoula accounts for 2,574 jobs, down 1.1%. Kalispell is home to 2,207 industrial jobs, down 1.7% over the year, while industrial employment in Bozeman remained unchanged and is currently home to 1,999 manufacturing jobs. Great Falls accounts for 1,496 jobs, up 8.1% over the year.

Detailed profiles of Montana's 1,924 manufacturers and 326 distributors can be found in the 2013 Montana Manufacturers Directory, available in print for $87, or available online through MNI's subscription-based service at www.ezselect.com. Users may generate custom profiles of manufacturers using a variety of criteria, including area or zip code, county, SIC, sales volume, number of employees, and more. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 5,565 executives by name and title, product(s) manufactured, annual sales, and number of employees. MNI also maintains IndustryNet.com, an industrial search engine designed specifically for locating manufacturers and suppliers nationwide, and has recently launched an expansion and relocation guide for manufacturers.

Manufacturers' News, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest publisher of state manufacturers directories.  For 100 years the company has identified, researched and profiled manufacturing establishments. MNI employs an 85-person editorial staff to scour state business registrations, trade journals, financial reports, and many other sources to pinpoint every manufacturing establishment in the U.S. Each manufacturer is contacted throughout the year to update their profiles, including their employee counts. For more information, contact Manufacturers' News, Inc., 1633 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60201, 847-864-7000, FAX 847-332-1100. www.manufacturersnews.com. Information is also available on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Manufacturers' News, Inc.

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