Industrial employment in New Hampshire shrank by 1.6 percent over the past 12 months according to the 2008 New Hampshire Manufacturers Register, an industrial guide published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports New Hampshire lost 1,529 manufacturing jobs since October 2006 – the second year of losses MNI has reported for the state.
MNI reports New Hampshire's employment losses have leveled off slightly compared to the precipitous losses the state has seen since 2000. Manufacturers' News described a 2.5 percent loss in manufacturing employment for New Hampshire between October 2005 and October 2006, and a 19 percent loss posted over the five years prior.
"This is a trend we've seen in other states," says MNI president Thomas Dubin. "Even though manufacturing activity and output are at record highs, industrial employment is stagnant or declining. Part of it is the result of manufacturing jobs moving out of the country, and of mergers, acquisitions and consolidation, but much of it has to do with the nature of today's manufacturing. Thanks to automation and technology, fewer employees are needed. Instead of four low-skilled workers on an assembly line, you now may have one worker entering numerical codes into a computer that controls the manufacturing process."
Manufacturers' News reports New Hampshire is home to 2,959 manufacturers employing 94,936 workers. New Hampshire ranks 35th in the nation for number of manufacturing plants and 37th for jobs. New Hampshire accounts for 11.3 percent of New England's manufacturers and 9.8 percent of its jobs, ranking third in the New England region for both industrial employment and number of manufacturers.
The industrial machinery and equipment sector accounts for the most manufacturing jobs in New Hampshire, representing 17.6 percent of the state's industrial employment or 16,752 jobs. MNI reports employment in this sector has grown by 547 jobs, or 3.4 percent, since October 2006. Manufacturers of electronics and electrical equipment employ another 14,973 workers, or 16 percent of the state, down 122 jobs, or a half percent over the past 12 months. Metal fabricators employ 8,811 workers, with no change reported over the year, while printing and publishing accounts for 6,992 jobs, down 2.7 percent over the past 12 months.
Other sectors posting losses include food products, down a half percent, apparel and textiles, down 5.5 percent; and primary metals manufacturing, down 7.8 percent
MNI reports 36 percent, or 33,903 of the state's jobs, are centered in Hillsborough County, down 1,386 jobs (3.9 percent) over the past 12 months. Rockingham County is home to 19,451 jobs, or 20 percent of the state, with employment up 3.4 percent, or 649 jobs, over the year.
Manchester is home to the most industrial jobs in New Hampshire, representing 10 percent of the state's manufacturing employment, or 9,371 jobs, down 7.9 percent, or 807 jobs, since October 2006. MNI reports Manchester ranks third in New England for number of manufacturers and ranks sixth in the region for related jobs. Nashua accounts for 7,670 jobs, down 1.7 percent, or 132 jobs, over the year and ranks 13th in New England for manufacturers and 15th for jobs. Hudson is home to 5,068 of the state's jobs, down 122 (2.3 percent) while Keene accounts for 3,766 jobs, up 82 (2.2 percent). Portsmouth represents 3,506 of the state's jobs, with employment steady over the year.
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