In the last year, industrial employment in Texas grew 1 percent with a gain of 9,043 jobs, according to the 2012 Texas Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. in Evnston, Ill.
Based on MNI's numbers, 22,672 manufacturers employing 1,165,138 workers are now located in Texas.
"Manufacturing in Texas continues to thrive," says Tom Dubin, president of MNI. "The state's friendly business environment, educated work force and solid infrastructure have been a draw for a variety of enterprises."
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In terms of employment, industrial machinery and equipment is still Texas' largest manufacturing sector employing 167,843 of the state's jobs, an increase of 2.7 percent over the year. Fabricated metal comes in at second with 115,354 industrial jobs, a decline of 1.9 percent while oil and gas extraction is now the third largest sector after passing food products with 109,527 jobs, a growth of 7.7 percent in the past year.
According to MNI, other industrial sectors that gained jobs in the last year are paper products at 7.4 percent, petroleum and coal products at 3.2 percent, instruments and related products at 2.5 percent, rubber and plastics at 1.2 percent, and primary metals at 1 percent. Among the losses are in textiles and apparel at minus 6.7 percent; stone, clay and glass at minus 4.6 percent; printing and publishing at minus 4.3 percent; furniture and fixtures at minus 1.9 percent; food products at minus 1.6 percent; and lumber and wood at minus 1.4 percent.
Southeast Texas accounts for the most industrial employment in the state with 477,800 jobs, marking a 2 increase in the last year, MNI finds, while Northeast Texas makes up the second largest employment region with 406,272 manufacturing jobs, a decrease of 1.5 percent. East Central Texas comes in at third employing 95,871 jobs, a 1.2 percent growth. Southwest Texas has 89,843 manufacturing jobs, an incline of 1.4 percent, and Northwest Texas accounts for 47,698, representing a 0.5 percent growth. West Central Texas provides 47,654 industrial jobs, an increase of 6.5 percent from 2011.
Houston is the top city for industrial employment in Texas as well as the United States with 235,694 manufacturing jobs, an increase of 2.4 percent over the year, MNI reveals. Dallas employment is now at 73,083 jobs, a decrease of 4.1 percent while Fort Worth employs 63,326 industrial jobs, up 0.5 percent. San Antonio provides 51,581, a 1 percent growth from 2011. Austin comes in at the No. 5 spot with 44,331 jobs, an increase of 5.6 percent.
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