Kansas Gains Manufacturing Jobs

Manufacturing employment in Kansas posted a slight gain over the past year, according to the 2014 Kansas Manufacturers Directory, a manufacturers' database and directory published by Manufacturers' News Inc. (MNI). MNI reports Kansas added 824 manufacturing jobs from April 2013 to April 2014 and is now home to 4,450 manufacturers employing 217,189 workers.

"Although the general downturn in the aviation industry has hurt Kansas, the state remains a great place to do business," says Tom Dubin, president of MNI. "Its low business costs and abundant natural resources continue to lure a variety of new manufacturers to the state, such as the Mars chocolate plant that recently opened in Topeka."

The state's three largest industrial sectors by employment saw little to no change in the number of jobs during the survey period. Employment levels in the transportation equipment industry were virtually unchanged, with the sector accounting for 46,159 jobs, though that figure is slated to drop as Boeing winds down operations at its Wichita plant. Employment in food products declined a half percent, with the sector employing 33,258, while industrial machinery accounts for 27,941 jobs, a half percent higher than a year ago.

Several manufacturing companies in Kansas announced expansions over the year including a General Motors assembly plant in Kansas City, LMV Automotive in Liberty, Catalyst Artificial Lift in Iola and Unilever's margarine plant in Gardner.

Industries in Kansas reporting losses included lumber/wood, printing/publishing, stone/clay/glass, furniture/fixtures and electronics. Gains were reported in chemicals, rubber/plastics and instruments/related products.

Major industrial closures in Kansas included a Bimbo Bakery facility in Wichita and a Hallmark production plant in Topeka.

Wichita remains the state's top city for manufacturing employment with 59,100 workers, followed by Kansas City with 13,155 jobs and Lenexa with 10,613 jobs.

For more information, visit www.manufacturersnews.com.