West Virginia's manufacturing employment dropped 1.5 percent over the past 12 months, according to the 2008 West Virginia Manufacturers Register, an industrial guide published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports West Virginia lost 1,558 manufacturing jobs and 147 manufacturers since June 2006.
Manufacturers' News reports West Virginia is home to 2,176 manufacturers employing 90,295 workers. MNI surveys both large and small manufacturers, including small start-up companies with just a few employees. According to MNI, the majority of West Virginia's losses were small businesses shutting down. 70 percent of West Virginia companies ceasing operations over the past year employed five or fewer workers.
"West Virginia's job losses echo those seen across the Mid-Atlantic as manufacturers continue to cut costs through technology and outsourcing," said Tom Dubin, president of the Evanston, Ill.-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "Today's manufacturing requires fewer employees due to automation and technology; instead of four assembly line workers, now you may have just one controlling the manufacturing process through a computer."
MNI's regional analysis shows West Virginia ranks 41st in the nation for number of manufacturing plants, and 38th for jobs, and accounts for 3 percent of the Mid-Atlantic's industrial employment and plants.
The Northwest region of the state accounts for the largest share of West Virginia's manufacturing jobs, at 36 percent of the state's industrial employment, or 32,287 jobs, with 11,956 of these concentrated in the Northern Panhandle. The Southwest accounts for the second most at 29,834 jobs, or 33 percent of the state. The Northeast part of the state accounts for 11,652 jobs, with half of these jobs located in the Eastern Panhandle. Central West Virginia represents 10.2 percent of the state's employment, or 9,207 jobs, and the Southeast represents 8 percent, or 7,310 jobs.
Kanawha is West Virginia's top county by employment, accounting for 9,841 jobs, down 984 jobs (9 percent) from 12 months ago. Cabell County ranks second with 7,562 jobs, down 401 (5 percent) from a year ago. Third-ranked Wood County accounts for 6,340 jobs and dropped 516 jobs (7.5 percent) over 12 months.
Huntington is home to the most West Virginia industrial jobs, accounting for 7 percent of the state's manufacturing employment, or 6,033 jobs, and is home to 123 plants. MNI reports Huntington industrial jobs are down 377, or 6 percent. Charleston is home to another 117 companies employing 4,415 workers, and MNI reports industrial employment is up 3.7 percent in this city over the past 12 months. Martinsburg ranks third in the state with 3,577 workers and 46 plants, while fourth-ranked Moorefield is home to 10 plants employing 3,436. Morgantown accounts for 3,154 industrial jobs and 79 of the state's plants.
Mining and quarrying companies account for the most industry in West Virginia, representing 12 percent of the state's manufacturing employment or 10,730 jobs, and employment is up in these sectors by 4.7 percent. The lumber and wood sector represents another 10 percent of the state's manufacturing employment, or 9,417 jobs, and is down 5.6 percent from last year. Companies manufacturing chemicals account for the third-most jobs in the state, at 8,043 jobs, down 9 percent over the past year, while metal manufacturers represent 7.9 percent of the state's industrial employment, or 7,215 jobs, down a half percent over last year.
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