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State Industrial Directory Reports Alaska Manufacturing Employment Up 5% Over Year

Posted on: Thursday, 22 May 2008, 11:53 CDT

EVANSTON, Ill., May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in Alaska increased 5% over the past twelve months according to the 2008 Alaska Manufacturers Directory, a compilation of state industry published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Alaska gained 1,555 industrial jobs from March 2007 to March 2008 -- contrary to the steep industrial employment losses experienced by the rest of the U.S.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070213/MNILOGO)

"Growing worldwide demand for products produced in Alaska, particularly metal goods, petroleum and coal products, made 2007 a strong year for exports," says Tom Dubin, President of Manufacturers' News. "Japan, China and South Korea are some of the state's largest markets, and these exports help Alaska retain manufacturing jobs in the face of layoffs throughout much of the rest of the country."

The industrial directory reports Alaska is home to 947 manufacturers employing 32,952 workers. MNI profiles manufacturers of all sizes including small, start up companies.

According to MNI, food manufacturing accounts for 32% of the state's industrial jobs or 10,659 jobs, up 4.5% or 478 jobs over the past twelve months. Fish processing/canning accounts for 93% of the state's food manufacturing jobs, up 515 jobs or 5.5% over the year. Another 13% of Alaska's industrial jobs are in oil & gas extraction, up 621 jobs or 17.5% in the past 12 months. Employment in petroleum and coal products processing represents 3,776 of the state's industrial jobs, up 24% or 720 workers in the past twelve months. The industrial machinery and equipment sector accounts for 4,684 of Alaska's industrial jobs, up 2% since March 2007.

Other sectors gaining jobs include printing and publishing, up 2.2% while losses were seen in fabricated metal products, down 12%. MNI reports employment in the lumber and wood sector held steady over the year.

According to MNI, 58% of the state's industrial jobs are located in South Central Alaska, with this region also posting the majority of the state's gains. Jobs in Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island represent 19,264 jobs, up 1,289 jobs or 7.2% in the past 12 months. A year ago MNI reported jobs in this region were down 3.6% between the 2006 and 2007 period. Anchorage alone accounts for 47% of the state's industrial employment or 15,436 jobs, up 9.7% over the year.

The Aleutian Islands represent 2,747 of the state's industrial jobs, up 12.4% in 2007 while Fairbanks North Star is home to 1,877 jobs, down 5.6%. Dutch Harbor accounts for 2,133 jobs, up 16% over the past 12 months. The oil-rich North Slope region is home to 13 manufacturers employing 1,019, while Prudhoe Bay is home to 966 industrial jobs, up 1.6% in 2007.

Detailed profiles of Alaska's 947 manufacturers and 195 industrial distributors can be found in the 2008 Alaska Manufacturers Directory, available in print for $65 and on CD-ROM from $105. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), names and titles of 2,686 key executives, product(s) manufactured, annual sales, number of employees, and more. Visitors to http://www.mnileads.com/ may generate custom company selections using thirteen different criteria, including area or zip code, county, SIC, sales volume, number of employees, and more.

Manufacturers' News, Inc., publisher of manufacturers' directories since 1912, compiles and produces 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.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070213/MNILOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Manufacturers' News, Inc.

CONTACT: Jennifer Ratcliff of Manufacturers' News, Inc.,+1-847-864-9440, ext. 241, jratcliff@manufacturersnews.com

Web site: http://www.manufacturersnews.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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