California Manufacturers Guide Reports State Lost More Than 16,000 Industrial Jobs

Industrial employment in California dropped 1% over the past 12 months according to the 2008 Directory of California Manufacturers, a compilation of state industry published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports California lost 16,055 industrial jobs and 564 manufacturers from February 2007 to February 2008.

"Even though manufacturing activity is at a record high, outsourcing, consolidation and increased technology have contributed to industrial employment declines across the nation," says Tom Dubin, President of Manufacturers' News. "However, California's 1% loss is slight when compared to losses seen in other major industrial states over the past several years."

Manufacturers' News reports California is home to 26,870 manufacturers employing 1,645,734 workers. Despite the losses California still holds its rank as the largest manufacturing state in the nation, accounting for 8.7% of the nation's manufacturing employment and 7% of its manufacturers. MNI profiles manufacturers of all sizes, including small, start-up companies with just a few employees.

According to MNI, Southern California suffered more than half of the state's industrial job losses, down 9,022 jobs or 1% over the year. Southern California currently accounts for 1,047,514 jobs, or 64% of the state, with 48% of these jobs located in Los Angeles County. LA County industrial employment is down 1.6% or 8,035 jobs.

Northern California accounts for 598,220 jobs, down 7,033 or 1.2% over the year. Silicon Valley accounts for 57% of these jobs, down 4,685 or 1.4% over the past twelve months.

MNI's city data shows Los Angeles ranks among the top cities in the US for manufacturing, at 4th for industrial employment and 7th for number of manufacturers, despite a 3.5% loss in industrial employment and a 4.4% loss in manufacturers. Los Angeles currently accounts for 1,725 manufacturers employing 97,844.

San Diego ranks second in the state for manufacturing employment with 76,198 jobs and 800 plants, ranking 11th and 35th, respectively, on MNI's list of top manufacturing cities. San Diego industrial jobs are down 565 or less than 1% over the year, and related plants are down 2.1%. San Jose accounts for 59,646 industrial jobs and 598 plants, with jobs down 3.3% and plants down 3.4%. Irvine is home to 348 manufacturers employing 40,753 workers, with employment up 3.2%, while 5th-ranked Santa Clara accounts for 351 manufacturers and 38,201 workers, with employment down 3.8%

The industrial directory reports electronics manufacturing is the state's largest sector, with 264,226 industrial jobs, or 16% of the state's manufacturing employment, down 3.2% over the past 12 months. MNI reports California accounts for 13% of the nation's electronics manufacturers. Manufacturers of industrial machinery and equipment employ 195,420 California workers, down 1.5% over the past 12 months. The transportation equipment sector ranks 3rd in the state with 125,736 jobs, down 2.8% over the year.

Other sectors losing employment include printing and publishing, down 2.3%; chemicals and allied products, down 1.9%; rubber and miscellaneous products, down 1.2% and furniture and fixtures, down 6%. Employment remained stable in textiles and apparel, lumber and primary metals/metal manufacturing, while gains were seen in paper and allied products, up 3.6% and instruments and related products, up a half percent. Food manufacturing employment remained stable despite a 1% loss in manufacturers, which included a Hershey's Chocolate plant in Oakdale and an Interstate Brands bakery location in Pomona.

Detailed profiles of California's 26,870 manufacturers and 1,292 industrial distributors can be found in the 2008 Directory of California Manufacturers, available in print for $208 and on CD-ROM from $305. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), names and titles of 69,544 key executives, product(s) manufactured, annual sales, number of employees, and more. Visitors to mnileads.com may generate custom company selections 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. For more information, contact Manufacturers' News, Inc., 1633 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60201, 847-864-7000, FAX 847-332-1100.

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