Industrial employment in Wyoming increased 1.9% over the past year, according to the 2012 Wyoming Manufacturers Directory®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Wyoming gained 640 manufacturing jobs from October 2010 to October 2011.

Manufacturers’ News reports Wyoming is now home to 1,226 manufacturers employing 32,932 workers.

“The recovery is gaining momentum in Wyoming and across the U.S.,” says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. “The state’s low business costs, abundant natural resources, and educated workforce have been a draw for a variety of enterprises.”

Bright spots for the state included the announcement of a joint venture by Ohio-based Worthington Industries and Spanish company Corporacion Gestamp to build a wind tower manufacturing site in Cheyenne; the expected opening of Vacutech’s vacuum cleaning systems plant in Sheridan; and Exxon Mobil’s expansion of its carbon dioxide capture plant near LaBarge.

MNI reports oil and gas extraction remains Wyoming’s largest industrial sector by employment with 9,535 jobs, up 2.2% over the year. Coal mining ranks second and accounts for 6,403 jobs, up 8.4%. Third-ranked industrial machinery and equipment represents 3,525 of the state’s jobs, down 4.7% over the past twelve months.

Other industrial sectors that gained jobs included electronics, up 9.7%; fabricated metals, up 8.7%; and printing/publishing, up 3.2%. Losses were seen in rubber/plastics, down 13.8%; coal/petroleum products down 6.7%; primary metals, down 5.6%; and lumber/wood down 3.9%.

Losses for the state included the recently-announced closure of JELD-WEN Windows & Doors in Cheyenne and layoffs at Frontier Oil Corporation, also in Cheyenne.

According to MNI, Gillette remains Wyoming’s top city for manufacturing employment, with 5,964 jobs, down 1.5% over the year. Casper ranks second with 4,157 jobs, up 4%. Wright saw jobs increase 10%, with the third-ranked city now home to 3,245 industrial jobs. Industrial employment in Rock Springs increased 4.9% over the year with the fourth-ranked city accounting for 2,597 jobs, while Green River is home to 2,446, with no significant change reported.

For more information, contact Manufacturers’ News, Inc., 1633 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60201, 847-864-7000,
FAX 847-332-1100.