Tulsa's manufacturing employment increased 2.7 percent over the past 12 months, according to the 2008 Oklahoma Manufacturers Register, an industrial guide published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports Tulsa gained 1,287 manufacturing jobs but lost 38 manufacturers since July 2006.
"These numbers reflect the mergers and consolidations that are so prevalent these days," said MNI president Tom Dubin. "Employees skilled in today's technology are so much in demand that casualties of plant closings are able to find employment elsewhere."
Manufacturers' News reports Tulsa is home to 1,228 manufacturers employing 49,365 workers, and accounts for 20 percent of Oklahoma's manufacturers and 23 percent of its jobs. MNI surveys both large and small manufacturers, including small companies with just a few employees.
MNI's data shows Tulsa ranks among the top 50 manufacturing cities in the United States, at 17th in the nation for number of manufacturing plants and 27th for related jobs. Oklahoma ranks ninth in the nation for number of manufacturing plants, and 10th for jobs, and accounts for 14 percent of the Southwest's manufacturers and 11 percent of its related jobs.
Tulsa's transportation equipment sector accounts for much of the city's job gains with employment in this industry up over 1,000 jobs in the past 12 months. Tulsa's oil and gas production sector has seen improvement, up 324 jobs in the past 12 months. Industrial machinery and equipment is up 185 jobs while printing and publishing is down 83 jobs.
MNI reports there are 6,250 manufacturers employing 216,890 workers operating in the state of Oklahoma. Northeast Oklahoma accounts for the largest share of the state's manufacturing jobs, with 105,525 jobs or 48.6 percent of the state, with Tulsa County representing 59,926 of these jobs. Northwest Oklahoma accounts for the second most at 64,076 jobs, or 29.5 percent, while Southwest Oklahoma accounts for 25,456 jobs. Southeast Oklahoma represents 10 percent of the state's employment, or 21,838 jobs.
Second-ranked Oklahoma City accounts for 1,180 manufacturers employing 43,709 workers. Broken Arrow accounts for 164 manufacturers employing 5,959 workers, while fourth-ranked Ponca City represents 69 companies employing 5,227. Fifth-ranked Lawton is home to 77 manufacturers and 4,275 workers.
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