Mississippi Industrial Jobs Down 3.3% Over Past Year
EVANSTON, Ill., April 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in Mississippi fell 3.3% over the past twelve months according to the 2011 Mississippi Manufacturers Register®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Mississippi lost 5,987 industrial jobs and 83 manufacturers between February 2010 and February 2011, a much smaller decline than the 9,661 industrial jobs and 164 plants MNI reported the state lost over the 2009-2010 survey period.
Manufacturers' News reports Mississippi is now home to 3,099 manufacturers employing 173,481 workers.
"Mississippi's industrial sectors continue to be affected by the housing bust and the recession," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "However, losses have slowed considerably, and the state's agricultural base and investments in innovative technologies are helping the recovery take hold."
Bright spots for the state include the planned opening of a Dennen Steel Corp. plant in Iuka; the re-opening of a Crystal Seas' oyster processing plant in Pass Christian following a shutdown due to the BP disaster; the expected opening of solar panel manufacturer Stion Solar Panels in Hattiesburg; as well as the expansions of Olin Corp. in Oxford, BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems in Water Valley, and Sly Inc. in Mathison.
According to MNI, food products manufacturing remains the state's largest industrial sector by employment, with 23,980 jobs, virtually unchanged from a year ago. Transportation equipment ranks second at 22,353 jobs, with no significant change reported. Third-ranked industrial machinery and equipment accounts for 18,764 jobs, down 2.1%.
MNI reports other sectors that lost jobs over the past twelve months included printing/publishing, down 15.2%; paper products down 10.8%; lumber/wood down 10.4%; rubber/plastics down 9.9%; textiles/apparel down 9.7% and chemicals down 9.4%. Gains were seen in furniture/fixtures, up 142 jobs and primary metals, up 5.6%.
Companies closing down over the year included Quad/Graphics, which shuttered a location in Corinth; International Filing Co., which shut down a facility in Hattiesburg; Movie Star Inc., which closed its textile plant in Poplarville after 57 years; and Delphi Corp., which shuttered its Clinton location.
MNI reports Southeast Mississippi accounts for the most industrial employment in the state, with 60,172 industrial jobs, down 1.4% over twelve months. Northeast Mississippi accounts for 46,846 industrial jobs, down 4.8%. The Southwest region of the state is home to 38,692 industrial workers, down 6.8%, while the Northwest is home to 27,771, with no significant change reported.
Pascagoula remains the state's top city by industrial employment with 14,338 manufacturing jobs, down 1.6% over the year. Laurel saw employment decrease 2.3% and is currently home to 7,347 industrial workers. Jackson accounts for 6,638 industrial jobs, down 5%, while Ellisville accounts for 6,107 of the state's jobs, with no significant change reported. Fifth-ranked Tupelo accounts for 6,069 jobs, down 3.1% over the past twelve months.
Detailed profiles of Mississippi's 3,099 manufacturers and 443 industrial distributors can be found in the 2011 Mississippi Manufacturers Register®, available in print for $93 and on CD-ROM from $134. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 10,222 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.
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