Florida Lost 30,000 Manufacturing Jobs in 2008

The 2009 Florida Manufacturers Register says industrial employment in that state fell 5.3% in twelve months, with 30,340 industrial jobs and 665 manufacturers lost between February 2008 and February 2009.

The Resgister’s publisher, MNI, says it’s the steepest loss they have ever recorded for the state.

Florida is now home to 15,860 manufacturers, employing 543,283 workers.

Employment in the lumber & wood sector was the worst affected, down 15% in 2008. On the other hand, printing & publishing is Florida’s top sector with 57,581 jobs, down 6.4% over the year. The electronics sector follows closely with 53,826 jobs, down 3.3%.

Central Florida accounts for over half of the state’s decline, losing 6.8% of its manufacturing employment, or 17,967 jobs. The region is currently home to 245,566, or 45% of the state’s industrial workers.

Miami is the state’s top city for manufacturing employment, home to 43,575 jobs and 1,365 manufacturers, and ranks 11th among the nation’s cities for number of manufacturers.