Industrial employment in Indiana fell 7.7 percent over the past 12 months according to the 2009 Indiana Manufacturers Directory, published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports Indiana lost 51,242 industrial jobs from March 2008 to March 2009 – the sharpest decline MNI has ever reported for the state.
The directory reports Indiana suffered a 1 percent loss in manufacturing employment between 2005 and 2006, a loss of 2.4 percent between 2006 and 2007, and a 2.2 percent decline over the 2007-2008 survey period.
Manufacturers' News reports Indiana is now home to 10,748 manufacturers employing 610,491 workers.
"As with the entire nation, the recession continues to chip away at Indiana's core sectors. The auto industry has taken the greatest hit, while the faltering housing market has affected industries such as wood, furniture and building products," says Tom Dubin, president of the Evanston, Ill.-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912.
MNI reports a quarter of the state's losses were felt in the auto industry, which tallied a loss of 12,814 jobs (or 14.4 percent) over the year following layoffs and closings at RV manufacturers and suppliers such as Monaco Coach Corp, Starcraft RV, Travel Supreme and Newmar Corporation, as well as continuing cuts at the Big Three and their suppliers. The auto industry currently accounts for 73,364 jobs, while the transportation equipment sector as a whole employs 90,660. One bright spot in the auto sector was the opening of a new Honda plant in Greensburg that will be producing fuel-efficient vehicles. Other improvements include the opening of Alexin LLC, an extrusion billet caster now located in Bluffton.
Jobs in the furniture/fixtures sector dropped 11 percent over the past 12 months, while lumber and wood declined 7.3 percent. Losses were largely attributable to the decline in the housing sector, with companies such as Masterbrand Cabinets, Delta Faucet and manufactured home maker Dutch Housing suffering layoffs and closings.
Industrial machinery and equipment is the state's second largest industry, with 78,414 manufacturing jobs, down 3,240 (4 percent) over the year. Third-ranked fabricated metal products accounts for 64,745 jobs, down 3,866 (5.6 percent), according to MNI.
Other employment losses include chemicals, down 11.5 percent; primary metals, down 8.3 percent; rubber/plastics, down 8 percent; textiles/apparel, down 8 percent; stone/clay/glass, down 6 percent; electronics, down 5.9 percent; printing/publishing, down 5.8 percent; and paper products, down 2.7 percent.
Manufacturers' News reports Northeast Indiana accounts for 40 percent of the state's decline, losing 11.5 percent of its manufacturing employment or 20,226 jobs. The region is currently home to 155,937 industrial workers, or a quarter of the state. East Central Indiana lost 12,427 jobs over the year (7 percent) and currently accounts for 164,744 industrial jobs.
Southwest Indiana lost 8.6 percent (6,884 jobs) and is currently home to 73,053 industrial jobs, while West Central Indiana is home to 53,153 jobs, down 8.5 percent (4,929). The Southeast region saw jobs drop 5.2 percent and currently accounts for 67,224 jobs, while Northwest Indiana lost the fewest jobs, down 3.1 percent, currently accounting for 96,380 workers.
Indianapolis is home to the most industrial jobs in Indiana, with 1,352 manufacturers and 85,827 related jobs. MNI's city data shows Indianapolis' national ranking slipped from the seventh-largest city in the U.S. by industrial employment one year ago to the eighth-largest city in the latest survey, after a loss of 8,169 manufacturing jobs (8.7 percent) over the year.
Industrial jobs in Elkhart have dropped 2,478 (8.4 percent), with the city accounting for 26,956 industrial jobs. Jobs in Elkhart County are down 15.2 percent over the year.
Fort Wayne accounts for 26,748 jobs, down another 4.6 percent. Evansville accounts for 18,772 of the state's jobs, down 8 percent, while Columbus is home to 18,625 industrial workers, with employment down 4.6 percent.