Michigan Gains Plants But Loses Manufacturing Jobs

EVANSTON, IL - March 9, 2006: Michigan gained 308 plants but lost 6,076 manufacturing jobs over the past 12 months according to the 2006 Michigan Manufacturers Directory, an industrial guide published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI), Evanston, IL.

Michigan is now home to 17,075 manufacturing companies employing 842,980 workers and ranks 3rd in the Midwest, 7th in the nation for manufacturing employment, according to MNI's private survey.

MNI's five-year study reports Michigan suffered an 11% drop in industrial employment. Much of these losses occurred between 2001 and 2003 during which 88,000 manufacturing jobs were lost, compared to the 12,800 jobs lost over the past two years.

"Manufacturing capacity utilization is at a four-year high, and production continues to climb," said Tom Dubin, President of Manufacturers News, "Unfortunately, this hasn't translated into increased employment, as companies are finding ways to trim costs through technology and outsourcing."

Plant losses followed the same pattern with 1,459 plants lost between 2001 and 2003. Since 2004 Michigan has added 642 manufacturers: mostly small, start-up operations, according to Dubin.

Michigan's largest industrial cities gained plants in 2005, reports the Directory, reversing a five-year trend of plant losses. Grand Rapids, Detroit, Warren, Troy and Livonia gained a combined 54 manufacturers in 2005. Detroit gained 6 plants in 2005 after losing 156 between 2001 and 2004. Grand Rapids lost 73 plants between 2001 and 2003, but has since gained 21 manufacturers.

According to the 2006 Directory, Michigan's top industry remains industrial machinery and equipment, accounting for a quarter of Michigan manufacturing plants. Motor vehicle parts and accessories remain Michigan's top industrial employer, accounting for 145,623 jobs.

Detailed information on all of Michigan's 17,075 companies can be found in the 2006 Michigan Manufacturers Directory, published by Manufacturers' News, Inc. The 1,328-page directory is available for $175, and provides an in-depth company profile of up to 30 facts, including addresses, phone/fax numbers, web/email addresses, product(s) manufactured, names and titles of key executives, area of distribution, annual sales, number of employees, brand names, year established and more.

MNI's Michigan data is also available on CD-ROM from $229 to $655. Users may select manufacturing companies using thirteen different criteria, including area or zip code, county, SIC, sales volume, number of employees, title function and more. This information can be downloaded at http://www.mnileads.com.

Manufacturers' News, Inc. Evanston, IL, publisher of manufacturers' directories since 1912, compiles and distributes manufacturing guides, statistics, and databases for all 50 states. For more information, contact Manufacturers' News, Inc., 1633 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60201, 847-864- 7000, FAX 847-332-1100.

       Top 10 Michigan Industrial Cities By Number of Manufacturers

  City               # of Plants     +/- over 1 year    Net +/- over 5 years
  Grand Rapids            817              +16                   -52
  Detroit                 770              +6                    -150
  Warren                  472              +7                    -57
  Troy                    352              +14                   -19
  Livonia                 308              +11                   -25
  Sterling Heights        295              +3                    -37
  Holland                 278              +1                    +4
  Kalamazoo               276              +17                   -12
  Jackson                 262              -1                    -21
  Ann Arbor               236              +13                   -2