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Maine Manufacturing Jobs Fell 1.5% in 2008 According to State Industrial Directory

Posted on: Monday, 26 January 2009, 09:15 CST

EVANSTON, Ill., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in Maine dropped 1.5% over the past twelve months according to the 2009 Maine Manufacturers Register, a compilation of state industry published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI (http://www.manufacturersnews.com) reports Maine lost 1,135 industrial jobs from December 2007 to December 2008, a smaller loss than the 2.6% loss MNI reported for the state over the December 2006-2007 survey period.

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

Manufacturers' News reports Maine is home to 2,527 manufacturers employing 76,236 workers.

Maine tallied a loss of 2,120 industrial jobs or 2.6% over the 06-07 period and reported no significant change in employment in the 05-06 survey period, according to MNI.

"As with the entire nation, weakening demand continues to hit some of Maine's core sectors," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "However, Maine's stronghold in cutting-edge defense manufacturing as well as mainstays such as food and lumber should continue to help the state hold its own through the downturn."

According to MNI, Maine's largest sector by employment is transportation equipment, with 10,536 of the state's jobs, down 1% over the year, due partially to layoffs at jet engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. Lumber/wood ranks second with 8,906 jobs, down 2.5%. Third-ranked food products manufacturing represents 8,132 of the state's jobs, with employment in this sector virtually unchanged over the past year, and expected to strengthen with the January 2009 re-opening of Cooke Aquaculture, a salmon processing plant in Machiasport.

Sectors losing jobs over the year include leather and leather products, down 10%, following layoffs at Prime Tanning Co. in Berwick. Paper and allied products were down 5.8%, due partially to layoffs at Wausau Paper Corp in Jay. Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products were down 4.4%, electronics were down 4.3% and printing/publishing jobs were down 3.6%.

Sectors gaining jobs include fabricated metals, up 2.3% and instruments and related products, up 1.6%. No significant change in employment was reported for textiles and apparel, furniture and fixtures, chemicals, stone, clay and glass, and primary metals.

MNI reports Cumberland County accounts for 17,360 of the state's jobs, with no significant change reported, while York County saw employment decrease 3.2%, and is currently home to 10,043 of the state's jobs.

Portland ranks as the state's top manufacturing city with 5,376 jobs, up 1.3% over the year. Bath accounts for 5,091 jobs, with no significant change reported over the year. Auburn jobs are down 2.2% with the third-ranked city home to 4,051 workers. Westbrook accounts for 2,889 of the state's jobs, up 3.3%, while South Portland is home to 2,504 industrial workers, with employment up 1.7%.

Detailed profiles of Maine's 2,527 manufacturers and 475 industrial distributors can be found in the 2009 Maine Manufacturers Register, available in print for $87 and on CD-ROM from $119. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 7,506 executives by name and title, product(s) manufactured, annual sales, number of employees, and more. Visitors to mnileads.com may generate custom profiles of manufacturers 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 profiles of manufacturers, statistics and databases for all 50 states. MNI also maintains IndustryNet.com, an industrial search engine designed specifically for locating manufacturers and suppliers nationwide. For more information, contact Manufacturers' News, Inc., 1633 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60201, 847-864-7000, FAX 847-332-1100.

SOURCE Manufacturers' News, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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