Industrial Jobs Plummet 10.9% in Michigan

A report from Manufacturers’ News, Inc. reveals industrial employment in Michigan fell 10.9 percent over the past twelve months. The state lost 80,101 industrial job and 913 manufacturers between January 2009 and January 2010, which is the sharpest decline MNI has ever reported for the state.

“It’s a perfect storm of negative conditions,” MNI President Tom Dubin said in a press release. “The country has suffered deep losses in manufacturing employment due to automation and technology, outsourcing and the recession.”

 A total of 42,874 industrial jobs were lost the previous year, bringing the two-year total to 122,975.

 The transportation sector saw the worse decline, according to the report. Employment was down 18.4 percent, or nearly 30,000 jobs, following layoffs and closures at the Big Three automakers as well as their suppliers such as Visteon Corp. and American Axle.

 Other sectors with double-digit percentage decreases during the past 12 months included lumber/wood, down 12.5 percent; and textiles/apparel, down 11.6 percent.

 Manufacturers’ News compiles and produces manufacturing guides, statistics and databases for all 50 states. It was founded in 1912.