For the third year in a row, industrial employment in North Dakota posted a gain, according to the 2014 North Dakota Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. (MNI). MNI reports North Dakota gained 1,734 manufacturing jobs from May 2012 to May 2013, which was 3.5 percentage points above the national average. The state is now home to 1,248 manufacturers employing 44,311 workers.
"North Dakota industry continues to grow," says Tom Dubin, president of MNI. "The state's winning mix of low business costs, an educated workforce and abundant natural resources has resulted in many companies investing in its industrial sector, particularly those in the oil and gas industries."
Employment in oil and gas extraction rose 14.6 percent in North Dakota over the survey period, with jobs more than doubling in response to the Bakken Shale oil boom. Oil and gas extraction currently employs 8,156 North Dakota workers or 18 percent of the state's total industrial workforce.
Industrial machinery and equipment accounts for the most manufacturing employment in the state, employing 8,414 workers, with no significant change over the year. Industrial employment gains were seen in most sectors, including fabricated metals, chemicals, instruments/related products, stone/clay/glass, transportation equipment, rubber/plastics and electronics.
Bright spots for the state included Carbontec Energy Corp's plans to open an iron plant in Jamestown and the recent expansion of Cirrus Aircraft's factory in Grand Forks. In addition, energy firm Oneok announced plans to open a gas-processing plant in Williston, John Deere expanded its plants in Fargo and Valley City, Minn-Dak Farmers expanded a beet-processing facility in Wahpeton, and the previously shuttered Noodles by Leonardo pasta factory recently reopened under the name of Cando Pasta.
Losses were seen in furniture/fixtures, lumber/wood and printing/publishing. Industrial locations announcing closures included DMI Industries, which shuttered its wind tower plant in West Fargo.
MNI's city data shows Fargo remains North Dakota's top city for manufacturing employment with 9,880 industrial jobs. Second-ranked Williston accounts for 6,242 jobs, while Grand Forks is home to 2,742 industrial workers.
For more information, visit www.manufacturersnews.com.
