Wisconsin Gains Manufacturing Jobs

For the second year in a row, industrial employment in Wisconsin posted a gain, according to the 2014 Wisconsin Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. (MNI). MNI reports Wisconsin gained 3,010 manufacturing jobs from July 2012 to July 2013 and is now home to 11,208 manufacturers employing 574,091 workers.

"Wisconsin's industrial sector continues to grow," says Tom Dubin, president of MNI. "The state's lower business costs in comparison to its neighbors, educated workforce and central location for the shipment of goods continue to result in many companies investing in its manufacturing sector, particularly those in the food products sector."

Employment in food products manufacturing rose 1.1 percent in Wisconsin over the survey period and is expected to keep rising with the expansion of a Wisconsin's Dairyfood USA site in Blue Mounds, Seneca Foods' planned expansion of its Janesville plant and Agropur's plans to expand its cheese-making operations in Luxemburg. Food products manufacturing currently employs 66,266 Wisconsin workers, ranking third in the state for the number of industrial jobs.

Other bright spots included commercial lighting company Kenall Manufacturing's announcement that it plans to move its headquarters to a new facility in Kenosha. In addition, L&M Corrugated Container Corp. opened a new plant in Pleasant Prairie, paper manufacturer Summer Industries established a new facility in Neenah, Kendall Packaging will expand its factory in Mequon, and Wisconsin Oven established a new location in East Troy.

Industrial machinery and equipment accounts for the most industrial employment in the state with 311,566 jobs, while fabricated metals manufacturing ranks second with 69,754 industrial jobs. Other sectors to gain jobs included paper products, electronics and chemicals.

Losses were seen in lumber/wood, stone/clay/glass, printing/publishing, furniture/fixtures and rubber/plastics.

Industrial locations announcing closures included food packaging plant Pactiv in Chippewa Falls, auto supplier Dana Holding's location in Milwaukee and Cenveo's location in Kenosha.

MNI's city data shows Milwaukee remains Wisconsin's top city for manufacturing employment with 50,802 industrial jobs. Green Bay was second with 21,825 jobs, followed by Madison with 18,554 jobs.

For more information, visit www.manufacturersnews.com.