EVANSTON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Industrial employment in Illinois rose nearly one percent over the past twelve months according to the 2013 Illinois Manufacturers Directory®, an industrial guide published annually since 1912 by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI), Evanston, IL, MNI reports Illinois manufacturers added 6,833 jobs between November 2011 and November 2012, slightly under one percent.
The industrial directory reports Illinois is now home to 18,814 manufacturing companies employing 817,116 workers.
According to the industrial guide, Illinois’ top sectors for manufacturing jobs all posted gains over the year. Manufacturers producing industrial machinery and equipment account for the largest share of the state’s manufacturing employment, with 130,959 jobs, up 1.5%. Second-ranked fabricated metals accounts for 93,873 jobs, up 2.4% over the past twelve months, while third-ranked food products manufacturing accounts for 92,927 industrial jobs, up 1%.
“Illinois obviously has some major budget and credit rating issues, which may keep some businesses away,” says Tom Dubin, President of Manufacturers’ News. “But the state’s central location, easy access to shipping and transportation, and large, highly skilled workforce continue to make Illinois a major player in the manufacturing sector.”
Manufacturing companies announcing openings over the year included Japanese train-car maker Nippon Sharyo, which opened its new U.S. headquarters and production plant in Rochelle. In addition Lenze Americas’ opened an assembly plant in Glendale Heights; metal roof manufacturer MBCI will break ground on a factory in Mattoon; Cook Medical expanded its industrial facility in Canton; and Nexus Corp. opened an assembly plant in Pana. Several manufacturers operating in Illinois announced expansions over the year, including Continental Tire in Mt. Vernon; Quad/Graphics in Effingham; Case IH in Goodfield; and Bridgestone Tires in Bloomington.
Sectors posting gains over the year included paper products, up 3.9%; rubber/plastics, up 3.5%; fabricated metals, up 2.4%; and electronics, up 1.6%. The industrial guide reports losses were seen in furniture/fixtures, down 2.5%; lumber/wood, down 2.2%; stone/clay/glass, down 1.6%; and printing/publishing, down 1%.
Manufacturing companies announcing closures included Diversapack’s factory in Marengo; Richco Inc.’s Harvard plant; Milgard Windows & Doors in Aurora; Goodrich ISR Systems in Barrington; and Unilever’s Alberto Culver plant in Melrose Park.
The industrial directory reports Northeast Illinois accounts for 70% of the state’s manufacturing employment, with 567,586 jobs, up about one percent over the year. Cook County accounts for 301,515 of these jobs, virtually unchanged from a year ago. Industrial employment in the collar counties posted a net 1.1% gain, with jobs up 4.7% in Lake County; up 1.9% in DuPage County, and up 1.4% in Kane County. Will County saw a half percent increase in industrial employment, while McHenry County saw a 2.3% decline.
Manufacturing companies operating in Northwest Illinois employ 73,144 workers, up 2.4% over the past twelve months, reports the industrial guide. West Central Illinois is home to 56,861 jobs, up 2.9%, while East Central Illinois accounts for 55,557 industrial jobs, down 1.5% over the year. Southwest Illinois accounts for 35,873 industrial jobs, with no significant change reported over the year, while manufacturers in Southeast Illinois employ 28,095 workers, virtually unchanged from a year ago.
According to the industrial directory, manufacturers in Chicago employ 106,936 workers, up 156 jobs or less than one percent. Elk Grove Village accounts for the second-most industrial employment with 20,339 jobs, virtually unchanged over the year. Industrial jobs remained steady in Rockford, with the third-ranked city home to 19,335 jobs.
Detailed profiles of Illinois’ 18,814 manufacturing companies can be found in the 2013 Illinois Manufacturers Directory®, available in print for $211, or available online through MNI’s industrial database subscription service. Users may generate custom profiles of manufacturers using a variety of criteria, including region, SIC, sales volume, number of employees, and more. Each business profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information, 60,315 executives by name and title, product(s) manufactured, and more.
Manufacturers’ News, Inc. is the nation’s oldest and largest publisher of state industrial directories and manufacturers databases. For 101 years the company has identified, researched and profiled manufacturing companies. MNI employs an 85-person editorial staff to scour business registrations, trade journals, financial reports, and many other sources to pinpoint every manufacturing establishment in the U.S. Each manufacturer is contacted throughout the year to update their profiles, including their employee counts. For more information, contact Manufacturers’ News, Inc., 1633 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60201, 847-864-7000, http://www.manufacturersnews.com.