Industrial employment growth in Missouri stalled over the past year, according to the 2016 Missouri Manufacturers Register, an industrial database and directory published by Manufacturers’ News Inc. (MNI).
MNI reports Missouri shed 1,397 industrial jobs from August 2014 to August 2015, its first loss since the 2010-2011 survey period. The state is now home to 7,559 manufacturers employing 362,014 workers.
“Like many states, Missouri is struggling with depressed global markets and a stronger dollar, which is putting a dent in manufacturing employment growth,” says Tom Dubin, MNI president. “However, the state’s solid infrastructure and business-friendly environment is helping many industries thrive in the state, especially the transportation equipment sector, which continues to see healthy post-recession growth.”
Employment in transportation equipment increased 7.6 percent between August 2010 and August 2015, recovering 27 percent of the 11,879 jobs lost during the recession. Transportation equipment currently ranks as the state’s top sector by number of jobs, employing 45,145.
Bright spots for the industry included Ford’s expanded hiring at its Kansas City assembly plant, the opening of Faurecia’s seating plant in Wentzville, and the establishment of Boeing’s new assembly plant in St. Louis.
Food processing, the state’s top sector by number of jobs, also helped to offset losses. Other industries posting gains over the year included instruments/related products, textiles/apparel and lumber/wood.
Losses were reported in printing/publishing, stone/clay/glass, fabricated metals, industrial machinery and chemical processing.
Industrial jobs in St. Louis remained steady over the year, with the city home to the most manufacturing jobs in the state at 80,211. Kansas City posted a one-half percent loss but still ranked second with 44,958 jobs, while employment was unchanged in third-ranked Springfield, which currently accounts for 16,459 jobs.
For more information, visit www.manufacturersnews.com.
