Industrial employment in Idaho fell 3.6 percent over the past 12 months according to the 2010 Idaho Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News Inc. MNI reports Idaho lost 2,813 industrial jobs and 29 manufacturers between October 2009 and October 2010, a much smaller decline than the 7,000-job loss MNI reported over the 2008-2009 survey period.
Manufacturers’ News reports Idaho is now home to 2,211 manufacturers employing 74,776 workers.
“Idaho’s industrial sector continue to be battered by the housing bust and the recession, ” says Tom Dubin, president of the Evanston, Ill.-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. “However, we’re definitely seeing fewer job losses than we did a year ago and the state’s favorable business climate should help improve the outlook.”
Food products manufacturing remains the state’s largest industrial sector by employment with 15,773 jobs, down 3.3 percent over the year, due partially to layoffs at ConAgra’s plant in Twin Falls. Second-ranked industrial machinery and equipment accounts for 15,492, down just 1.1 percent, while lumber/wood saw a steep decline of 14.3 percent, following the closure of Welco Lumber Company and layoffs at Weyerhaeuser, among others. Lumber and wood currently accounts for 9,109 Idaho industrial workers.
Most other industrial sectors in Idaho lost jobs within the past year and included transportation equipment, down 11.2 percent; textiles/apparel, down 7.3 percent; paper products, down 5.3 percent; printing/publishing, down 3.1 percent; stone/clay/glass, down 3 percent; and fabricated metal, down 1.7 percent. Employment in primary metals rose 5.3 percent; electronics climbed 1.4 percent; and chemicals 1.1 percent. Jobs remained steady in the rubber/plastics sector.
Bright spots for the state include the opening of shower and tub manufacturer Best Bath’s new plant in Caldwell; the expansion of ON Semiconductor Corporation in Pocatello; the re-opening of XL Four Star Beef Inc. in Nampa; and the opening of Transform Solar, a joint venture of Micron Technology and Origin Energy to produce solar panels in Nampa.
Manufacturers’ News reports Northern Idaho saw the largest drop in employment, down 5.6 percent over the year, and is currently home to 14,622 industrial workers. Manufacturing employment declined 4.1 percent in Southwest Idaho, with the region currently home to 41,555 jobs. Industrial employment remained steady in Southeast Idaho, with the region accounting for 18,599 industrial jobs.
MNI’s city data shows Boise is Idaho’s top city for manufacturing employment, home to 21,467 jobs, down 3.4 percent over the year. Second-ranked Nampa accounts for 6,635 jobs, up 4.6 percent over the past 12 months. Industrial employment in Idaho Falls also rose over the year, up 1.4 percent and is currently home to 4,494 industrial workers. Lewiston accounts for 3,289 industrial jobs with no significant change over the year, while Pocatello accounts for 3,077 jobs, up 2.5 percent over the past 12 months.
Manufacturers’ News reports Idaho is now home to 2,211 manufacturers employing 74,776 workers.
“Idaho’s industrial sector continue to be battered by the housing bust and the recession, ” says Tom Dubin, president of the Evanston, Ill.-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. “However, we’re definitely seeing fewer job losses than we did a year ago and the state’s favorable business climate should help improve the outlook.”
Food products manufacturing remains the state’s largest industrial sector by employment with 15,773 jobs, down 3.3 percent over the year, due partially to layoffs at ConAgra’s plant in Twin Falls. Second-ranked industrial machinery and equipment accounts for 15,492, down just 1.1 percent, while lumber/wood saw a steep decline of 14.3 percent, following the closure of Welco Lumber Company and layoffs at Weyerhaeuser, among others. Lumber and wood currently accounts for 9,109 Idaho industrial workers.
Most other industrial sectors in Idaho lost jobs within the past year and included transportation equipment, down 11.2 percent; textiles/apparel, down 7.3 percent; paper products, down 5.3 percent; printing/publishing, down 3.1 percent; stone/clay/glass, down 3 percent; and fabricated metal, down 1.7 percent. Employment in primary metals rose 5.3 percent; electronics climbed 1.4 percent; and chemicals 1.1 percent. Jobs remained steady in the rubber/plastics sector.
Bright spots for the state include the opening of shower and tub manufacturer Best Bath’s new plant in Caldwell; the expansion of ON Semiconductor Corporation in Pocatello; the re-opening of XL Four Star Beef Inc. in Nampa; and the opening of Transform Solar, a joint venture of Micron Technology and Origin Energy to produce solar panels in Nampa.
Manufacturers’ News reports Northern Idaho saw the largest drop in employment, down 5.6 percent over the year, and is currently home to 14,622 industrial workers. Manufacturing employment declined 4.1 percent in Southwest Idaho, with the region currently home to 41,555 jobs. Industrial employment remained steady in Southeast Idaho, with the region accounting for 18,599 industrial jobs.
MNI’s city data shows Boise is Idaho’s top city for manufacturing employment, home to 21,467 jobs, down 3.4 percent over the year. Second-ranked Nampa accounts for 6,635 jobs, up 4.6 percent over the past 12 months. Industrial employment in Idaho Falls also rose over the year, up 1.4 percent and is currently home to 4,494 industrial workers. Lewiston accounts for 3,289 industrial jobs with no significant change over the year, while Pocatello accounts for 3,077 jobs, up 2.5 percent over the past 12 months.