Pennsylvania Manufacturing Jobs Decline

Industrial employment in Pennsylvania declined slightly over the past year according to the 2014 Pennsylvania Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. (MNI). MNI reports Pennsylvania lost 1,053 manufacturing jobs from July 2012 to July 2013, in contrast to the 3,000 manufacturing jobs the directory reported the state gained over the 2011-2012 survey period. The state is now home to 17,191 manufacturers employing 811,432 workers.

"Manufacturers in Pennsylvania are still recovering from the recession, and high business taxes have affected hiring," says Tom Dubin, MNI president. "However, the state's educated workforce, access to capital and its reputation as a center for innovation continue to be a draw for new business."

Bright spots for the state included the opening of a Siemens Healthcare ultrasound systems facility in Plymouth Meeting, the planned expansion of Veka Inc.'s vinyl window plant in Fombell, Hershey's $300-million investment in its facility in Hershey and Coca-Cola's plans to expand its plant in Upper Macungie.

Due to the natural gas drilling boom in the Marcellus Shale, employment in oil and gas extraction rose 16 percent in the state over the survey period. Oil and gas extraction currently employs 7,178 Pennsylvania workers, or about one percent of the state's total industrial workforce.

Additional gains were seen in transportation equipment, electronics, instruments/related products and stone/clay/glass. Sectors that lost jobs included petroleum products, chemicals, furniture/fixtures, printing/publishing and lumber/wood.

Manufacturing locations announcing closures included FesslerUSA's 112-year-old garment plant in Orwigsburg, Lancaster Preferred Partners' auto parts plant in Lancaster, Penn Refrigeration's facility in Wilkes-Barre and a Hostess bakery in Philadelphia.

Industrial machinery and equipment accounts for the most manufacturing employment in the state with 93,817 jobs. Second-ranked fabricated metals employs 86,010 workers, while third-ranked food products manufacturing represents 84,621 jobs.

MNI's city data shows Philadelphia remains the state's top city for manufacturing employment with 43,313 workers. Pittsburgh was second with 36,679 jobs, while York ranked third with 22,052 industrial workers.

For more information, visit www.manufacturersnews.com.