Long way to climb back from the recession
Following several years of declines, industrial employment in Arkansas rose slightly over the past year, reports the 2015 Arkansas Manufacturers Register?, a manufacturers database and directory published by Manufacturers News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. According to data collected by MNI, Arkansas manufacturers added 645 industrial jobs from September 2013 to September 2014, or a third of one percent.
However, it faces tough competition from neighboring states and has a long way to climb back from the recession.
Arkansas low business costs and abundant natural resources have definitely contributed to this years uptick, says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. However, it faces tough competition from neighboring states and has a long way to climb back from the recession.
Manufacturers News reports Arkansas is now home to 3,344 manufacturers employing 195,155 workers. This years survey marks the first year Arkansas has posted a gain in industrial employment after shedding nearly 15% of its factory jobs since September 2007.
MNI reports the food products industry ranks as Arkansas top sector for manufacturing jobs, with 49,365 jobs. Employment in the leading sector rose a half percent over the year, and is expected to keep rising as more food manufacturers open in the state. For the full story, click here.
Additional increases were recorded in industrial machinery, up 1.7%; rubber/plastics, up 1.3% and electronics, up 1%.
Losses were recorded in printing/publishing, down 4.1%; lumber/wood, down 2.3%; and stone/clay/glass, down 1.8%.