Manufacturing Jobs Increase in Kansas Over Past Year

EVANSTON, Ill., May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in Kansas inched up over the past twelve months according to the 2011 Kansas Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Kansas gained 682 industrial jobs and 25 manufacturers between March 2010 and March 2011, the first gain MNI has reported for any US state since mid-2008.  

Manufacturers' News reports Kansas is now home to 4,639 manufacturers employing 212,088 workers.

"The recovery is gaining momentum in Kansas and across the US," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "Kansas' manufacturing is faring better due to its stronghold in the agricultural products, its favorable business climate, and investments in green technologies."

Bright spots for the state include the opening of several new facilities that will service Kansas' wind industry. Shuff Steel announced plans to open a wind-tower manufacturing plant in Ottawa; Siemens opened its wind turbine nacelle assembly facility in Hutchinson, and Dutch cable manufacturer Draka plans to open an assembly plant, which will supply the Siemens facility. Jupiter Group, a Danish wind turbine component maker, also expects to open a location in Junction City.

MNI reports Kansas' largest industrial sectors fared the best over the twelve-month survey. Transportation equipment accounts for the most manufacturing employment in the state with 46,455 jobs, up 4.3% over the year. Food products accounts for 33,214 industrial jobs, up 3%, while employment in third-ranked industrial machinery and equipment remained steady, currently accounting for 25,011 jobs.

According to MNI, sectors losing jobs included paper products, down 13.2%; fabricated metals, also down 13.2%; primary metals down 11.7%; printing/publishing down 9.8%; furniture/fixtures down 8.3%; lumber/wood down 5.6% and textiles/apparel down 3.2%. Gains were seen in chemicals up 3.6%; stone/clay/glass up 2.9% and rubber/plastics up 1.4%.

Losses for the state included the closure of Horizon Milling, which shuttered its facility in Topeka; National Envelope's closure of its Lenexa plant; and layoffs at Jostens, Inc. in Topeka.

MNI reports Southeast Kansas accounts for the most industrial employment in the state, with 100,711 industrial jobs, up 2.1% over twelve months. Northeast Kansas accounts for 87,507 industrial jobs, down 2.1%. The Southwest region accounts for 17,397 jobs, up 1.1%, while the Northwest saw employment increase 1.8% and is home to 6,473 industrial workers.  

Wichita remains the state's top city by industrial employment with 59,330 manufacturing jobs, up 5.6% over the year. Kansas City saw employment decrease 8% and is currently home to 13,074 industrial workers. Third-ranked Lenexa accounts for 9,597 industrial jobs, down 2.4%, while Olathe is home to 8.530 industrial jobs, up 11%. Fifth-ranked Topeka accounts for 8,239 jobs, down 6.5% over the past twelve months.

Detailed profiles of Kansas' 4,639 manufacturers and 706 industrial distributors can be found in the 2011 Kansas Manufacturers Directory, available in print for $101 and on CD-ROM from $155. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 16,329 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.  

SOURCE Manufacturers' News, Inc.