Utah's industrial sector stays stable

Utah's industrial sector remained stable during the past year, with total employment gaining a net 550 jobs, according to a report released Monday.

The 2009 Utah Manufacturers Directory, produced by Manufacturers' News Inc., said Utah job gains between August 2007 and August 2008 were in contrast to the nationwide situation during that time.

"While most other states have been losing manufacturing jobs to technology, automation and outsourcing, Utah's favorable business climate and skilled work force have helped the state increase exports and retain industrial facilities," Tom Dubin, president of the publishing firm, said in a prepared statement.

The report indicates that Utah has 4,142 manufacturers employing 163,901 people. Seventy-one percent of Utah manufacturers employ 15 or fewer people, compared to the national average of 62 percent, it said.

Salt Lake City accounted for 54,434, or 33 percent, of the state's manufacturing jobs and saw total jobs rise 1.6 percent from August 2007. Salt Lake City is ranked 15th in the country for the number of manufacturers and 19th for the number of manufacturing jobs.

Ogden is second among Utah cities, with 16,019 jobs, up 3.6 percent over the year. Logan has 8,909 jobs, up 1 percent. Provo saw a 3.3 percent increase and has 5,771 workers. Clearfield has 5,019 industrial workers, up 3.8 percent over the year.

Utah's largest industrial sector is food products manufacturing, with 18,420 jobs, although that figure is down 3.9 percent during the past year. Industrial machinery and equipment accounts for 14,990 jobs, virtually unchanged, while printing and publishing has 14,286 workers, up 4.1 percent.

Sectors with job increases include rubber and miscellaneous plastics, up 5 percent, and stone, clay and glass products, up 3.2 percent.

Due primarily to the closing of La-Z-Boy's plant in Tremonton, Box Elder County, this summer, employment in furniture and fixture manufacturing fell 16 percent. Other sectors losing jobs included fabricated metals manufacturing, down 6.1 percent; paper and related products, down 2.3 percent; lumber/wood, down 2 percent, and electronics, down 1.1 percent.

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E-mail: bwallace@desnews.com

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