RI Manufacturing Takes a Hit in 2010
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Rhode Island lost over 1500 manufacturing jobs last year, marking a 2.6% decline in industrial employment, according to the 2011 Rhode Island Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published by Manufacturers' News, Inc. Rhode Island is now home to 1,908 manufacturers employing 61, 298 workers, the directory reports.
"It's been a tough couple of years for manufacturers," said John J. Grady, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Manufacturer's Association. "I believe Rhode Island was hit harder than a lot of other states."
Two of the state's three largest industrial sectors -- fabricated metals manufacturing and industrial machinery and equipment -- suffered significant losses, 10.8% and 3.1%, respectively. Six other sectors also reported decline: primary metals fell 12%, and chemicals manufacturing, rubber/plastics, lumber/wood, furniture/fixtures, and electronics each fell by less than 5%.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTGeographically, the largest losses occurred in Providence, the state's top city for manufacturing, where industrial employment fell 7.3% over the course of 2010. Second-place Pawtucket reported a 2.8% decline and Cranston fell 6.2%, while both North Kingston and Warwick held steady over the year.
"Rhode Island's industrial sectors continue to be affected by the housing bust and the recession," says Tom Dubin, President of the Manufacturer's News, an Evanston, IL-based publishing company that has been surveying industry since 1912. "However, we're definitely seeing fewer job losses than we did a year ago and the recovery seems to have taken hold."
There were indeed bright spots in the report -- gains seen in instruments/related products, up 5.4%, food products, up 3.7%, and paper products, up 3.1%. Expansion of submarine-maker Electric Boat in North Kingstown and Deepwater Wind in Providence, as well as the openings of Tomorrow Biofuels in Cranston and Parmatech-Proform's metal injection facility in East Providence bode well for Rhode Island industry in 2011.
"We're hoping that by the second quarter things will turn around," Director Grady added. "I'm hearing positive things from manufacturers. We're optimistic."
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