Montana manufacturing employment grew 2.3 percent after gaining 688 jobs between July 2011 and July 2012, according to the 2013 Montana Manufacturers Directory, an industrial guide published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. in Evanston, Ill.

Following the gain, Montana now employs 29,779 industrial workers by 1,924 manufacturers, MNI finds.

"Montana continues to see its manufacturing sector improve," says Tom Dubin, president of MNI. "The state's business-friendly environment and abundant natural resources have helped boost exports and encourage hiring."

Of the largest industrial sectors are lumber and wood with 3,723 jobs for a 2 percent loss, printing and publishing with 2,930 jobs for a 3.3 percent loss and food products with 2,656 jobs for now significant change, MNI finds. Employment gains can be seen in transportation equipment at 8.2 percent, instruments and related products at 8.1 percent, fabricated metals at 7.1 percent, chemicals at 4.8 percent, and oil and gas extraction at 1.1 percent. Sectors that faced losses are furniture and fixtures at minus 8.7 percent; industrial machinery and equipment at minus 2.4 percent; and stone, clay and glass at minus 1 percent.

Northwest Montana boasts the state’s top industrial employment sector with 11,797 jobs, up 1 percent, followed by Southeast Montana with 8,582 jobs, up 6.6 percent, MNI reveals. Southwest Montana takes the third spot with 7,502 jobs, down 1.9 percent, and Northeast Montana comes in at fourth with 1,898 jobs, up 5.2 percent.

The MNI report also shows that Billings is Montana's top city for manufacturing employment with 4,684 jobs, up 5.1 percent. Coming in second is Missoula with 2,574 jobs, down 1.1 percent, and Kalispell is third with 2,207 industrial jobs, down 1.7 percent. Bozeman follows with 1,999 manufacturing jobs, which is virtually unchanged, and fifth-ranked Great Falls accounts for 1,496 jobs, up 8.1 percent.

Instant Insights /

Montana manufacturing employment grew 2.3 percent

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