Louisiana manufacturing jobs declined 2.3% over the past year

Industrial employment in Louisiana fell 2.3 percent over the past 12 months according to the 2010 Louisiana Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports Louisiana lost 4,704 industrial jobs between April 2009 and April 2010, a small loss compared to many states across the nation, but still larger than the 1.7 percent loss MNI reported for Louisiana over the 2008-2009 period.

According to earlier reports by MNI, Louisiana's neighbors saw larger decreases in industrial employment, with Oklahoma down 4.5 percent over 12 months, Mississippi down 5.1 percent and Arkansas 5.9 percent.

Manufacturers' News reports Louisiana is now home to 5,246 manufacturers employing 194,584 workers.

"Louisiana has seen some employment losses due to automation and technology, outsourcing and the recession," says Tom Dubin, president of Manufacturers' News. "But its favorable business climate and its strong oil & gas sector have kept it from seeing some of the severe losses suffered by other states."

Chemical manufacturing remains Louisiana's largest industrial sector by employment, accounting for 25,203 of the state's jobs, with no significant change reported. Industrial machinery and equipment ranks second with 22,916 industrial jobs, down 2.5 percent, following the closure of Trane Commercial Systems' facility in Springhill, among others. Oil and gas extraction ranks as the state's third-largest manufacturing sector with 19,057 of the state's industrial jobs, up 9 percent over the past 12 months.

MNI reports industrial sectors that lost jobs over the past 12 months included printing/publishing, down 10.8 percent; and lumber/wood, down 9.8 percent, following the closure of Weyerhaeuser's lumber mill in Taylor and layoffs at Hunt Forest Products in Hammond, among others. Primary metals declined 7.9 percent; transportation equipment fell 5.7 percent; paper products were down 5.2 percent; textiles/apparel were down 2.8 percent; furniture/fixtures were down 2.2 percent, and electronics were down 1.7 percent. Increases were seen in fabricated metal manufacturing, up 5.1 percent, and rubber/plastics, up 3.1 percent.

Other bright spots for the state include the planned opening of San Diego-based V-Vehicle Company's auto assembly plant in Monroe, which will employ 1,400 to produce environmentally-friendly vehicles, the expected opening of Point Bio Energy LLC's wood pellet facility in Baton Rouge, the opening of a Zagis USA cotton spinning mill in Jefferson Davis Parish, and the opening of a new Coca-Cola bottling plant in Baton Rouge. Other companies expanding or opening in Louisiana include Northwest Pipe Company, Olin Chlor Alkaki Products, Atlantic Metrocast Inc., Bruce Foods Corp., and J.M. Smucker Company.

MNI reports industrial jobs declined the most in Northeast Louisiana, down 10.5 percent over the year, with the region currently accounting for 11,164 jobs. Industrial jobs declined 3.9 percent in Northwest Louisiana, with the region home to 29,144 workers, while Southeast Louisiana saw a drop of 1.4 percent, currently home to 101,166. Southwest Louisiana saw a decline of 1.3 percent, and is currently home to 53,110.

Baton Rouge remains the state's top city by industrial employment, accounting for 15,859 manufacturing jobs, with no significant change reported over the year. New Orleans saw employment decrease 4.7 percent and is currently home to 10,911 industrial workers. Lafayette accounts for 10,261 industrial jobs, with no significant change reported, while Shreveport accounts for 9,521, down 3.3 percent over the year. Fifth-ranked Houma saw jobs drop 2.9 percent and currently accounts for 8,576 industrial jobs.