Tennessee lost manufacturing jobs and plants over the past 12 months, according to the new Tennessee Manufacturers Register, a manufacturers' directory published by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports Tennessee again suffered sharp drops in employment this year, losing 15,755 (3.1 percent) manufacturing jobs and 140 plants since October 2005.
MNI's five-year survey shows Tennessee lost 50,585 jobs, or 9.4 percent of its manufacturing employment, since October 2002.
"Although Tennessee's job growth has improved across most sectors, industrial employment is still declining," said MNI president Thomas Dubin. "Outsourcing, mergers, and consolidation have contributed to the loss of manufacturing jobs as well as automated manufacturing processes that require fewer workers."
Manufacturers' News reports Tennessee is now home to 8,754 manufacturing companies employing 483,172 workers compared to the 8,894 and 498,927 jobs reported a year earlier. MNI's survey profiles both large and small Tennessee manufacturers, including startup companies with just a few employees.
MNI's regional study shows Tennessee ranks fourth out of the eight Southeastern states by number of manufacturing jobs, accounting for 13 percent of the region's industrial employment. Tennessee's job losses echo those felt by most of its neighbors, with South Carolina's manufacturing jobs down 2.1 percent and Arkansas down by 3 percent. Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama have also posted losses in manufacturing employment this year.
Memphis ranks among the top manufacturing cities in the Southeast with 893 plants and 48,396 jobs listed in the MNI report. Nashville accounts for 756 plants and 32,954 jobs. MNI reports both cities lost plants last year, with Memphis losing six plants and Nashville losing three.
Manufacturers' News reports printing and publishing is Tennessee's top industrial producer, with 1,218 manufacturers. Industrial machinery and equipment ranks second with 1,166 manufacturers, while third-ranked lumber and wood products account for 871 plants. These three sectors account for 37 percent of the state's manufacturers.
According to MNI, motor vehicle parts represent the most manufacturing jobs, accounting for 7.6 percent of Tennessee's industrial employment. Major Tennessee manufacturers in this industry include Nissan and General Motors automotive assembly plants. The plastic products industry ranks second with 14,525 manufacturing jobs, while third-ranked industrial chemicals account for 12,371.
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