U.S. Industrial Manufacturing Industry to Create 50,000 Jobs in 2008

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The Industrial Manufacturing Industry in the United States is traditionally the largest employer on an annual basis, not only in terms of overall employment figures but also when it comes to jobs added each year. Early indications are that 2008 will continue this trend. As the new year begins, initial estimates place more than 50,000 new jobs on the threshold for the industry as more than 250 manufacturing plants under construction are expected to begin operation before year's end.

Click on the image to see an analysis of the Industrial Manufacturing Industry's new plants and employees in 2008.

The Great Lakes region will be the beneficiary of the largest number of both new plants and new jobs. Just less than 60 new plants will reside in the region, generating at least 14,000 jobs for an area that has been rocked in recent years by massive layoffs and buyouts within an automotive industry that is, arguably, the backbone of the region. While additional job cuts loom in the future for the automotive industry within the region, these additional jobs should help alleviate some of the pain of those cuts as the year moves forward.

The Southeast region, where many foreign automakers have made their homes, ranks second in terms of total new plants for the year with just more than 40. However, the region is in third place in total new jobs, a mere 600 behind the Northeast region, which will see 9,000 job opportunities develop in 2008. Rounding out the top five regions are the Southwest region with 25 plants and 4,300 jobs and the Rocky Mountains region with 18 plants and 4,200 jobs.

A closer look at where exactly these new job opportunities will fall reveals that Pennsylvania will be the recipient of the most new jobs with about 6,100 but is in second place in terms of new plants with 16. The overall leader in new plant activity will be Ohio, which will have 19 plants representing about 3,400 new jobs. Second in terms of new jobs will be Indiana, another Great Lakes region state, which will attract some 4,300 new jobs in eight new plants. Georgia and New York round out the top five states with 12 new plants each, creating 3,100 and 2,600 jobs, respectively.

Despite the turmoil and uncertainty within the automotive industry that has been a constant theme over the past two years, a heavy dose of new jobs are still being directed to traditionally "automotive"-dominated states and regions. Although additional job cuts are likely, new jobs will be able to alleviate some of the sting over the course of the year. New plant development continues at a brisk rate and will continue through 2008 and into 2009. As the country appears to slip into recession, a "hang-tough" philosophy is taking hold as these new jobs numbers show an industry that continues to expand coast to coast.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading marketing information services company for the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy-related markets throughout the world. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, IIR provides accurate and timely intelligence featuring plant and project information databases, focused market databases, industry forecasting, key industry contacts, industry and territorial map products, direct marketing services and applications, and daily industry news.