For the third year in a row, Wyoming’s manufacturing employment has grown, according to the new Wyoming Manufacturers Directory, published by Manufacturers’ News Inc. MNI reports that over the past 12 months, Wyoming gained another 1,515 manufacturing jobs (4.9 percent), boasting one of the largest industrial employment gains in the U.S. this year.
“Wyoming added more than 5,000 manufacturing jobs over the past few years, making it one of the few states in the nation to recover completely from the downturn of 2001,” said MNI president Tom Dubin. “This resource-rich state is continuously creating new jobs, particularly in the coal mining industries where outsourcing is not an option.”
Wyoming is now home to 1,371 manufacturing companies employing 32,307 workers. MNI’s survey profiles both large and small Wyoming manufacturers, including start-up companies with just a few employees.
MNI’s regional study shows Wyoming’s neighbors also saw gains in factory jobs in 2006, contrary to the job losses seen in much of the U.S. this year. According to MNI, Utah’s manufacturing jobs were up 3.7 percent this year. Nebraska, Colorado and Montana each saw a 1 percent gain, and North Dakota was up 2.5 percent.
According to the directory, Casper remains Wyoming’s industrial leader, with 224 companies employing 4,012 workers. MNI data shows Casper enjoyed a 7 percent increase in manufacturing plants over the past five years. Major Casper employers include Bay Wolf Drilling, with 400 employees; and SST Energy Corp., with 270 workers.
Gillette accounts for 134 plants, while Cheyenne ranks third with 91 companies and 2,380 jobs. These three cities account for 33 percent of Wyoming’s manufacturing plants and 38 percent of its industrial employment.
According to the new directory, Wyoming’s top industrial sector is oil and gas extraction, accounting for 21 percent of the state’s industrial plants.
Wyoming’s top industries by employment include oil and gas field services and coal mining. Top coal miners in the state include Powder River Coal Company, Thunder Basin Coal Company and Kennecott Energy Company. The oil and gas field services account for 3,483 Wyoming jobs. Bituminous coal processing account for 3,085 jobs and coal mining services represent another 2,792 workers.