Arkansas continued to lose manufacturing jobs and plants over the past 12 months, according to the new Arkansas Manufacturers Register, published by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports Arkansas again suffered sharp drops in employment this year, losing 7,515 manufacturing jobs (3 percent) and 104 plants since October 2005.
MNI's five-year survey shows Arkansas lost 25,269 jobs, or 9.7 percent of its manufacturing employment, since October 2002, despite a net gain of 235 plants.
"Even though manufacturing activity is at record highs, industrial employment is stagnating," said MNI president Thomas Dubin. "Automation and technology are partially to blame; Instead of four low-skilled workers on an assembly line, you might have one worker controlling the manufacturing process by entering codes into a computer."
Manufacturers' News reports Arkansas is now home to 4,344 manufacturing companies employing 235,686 workers. MNI's survey profiles both large and small Arkansas manufacturers, including startup companies with just a few employees.
MNI's regional study shows Arkansas ranks second in the Southwest by number of manufacturing jobs, accounting for 12 percent of the region's industrial employment. Little Rock ranks among the top manufacturing cities in the Southwest with 326 plants and 15,773 jobs listed in the register.
According to MNI, the food sector is Arkansas's top industrial employer, with poultry slaughtering representing 15 percent of the state's manufacturing employment (33,422 jobs).
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