Among the United States’ top 50 industrial cities, 28 experienced growth in the number of manufacturing jobs available in 2012, according to a new report released by Manufacturers' News Inc., a compiler and publisher of information about U.S. manufacturers.

This figure represents a significant increase from 2011 when only 17 of the country’s top industrial cities posted job gains, MNI finds.

Houston comes in at the No. 1 spot for industrial employment with 242,212 jobs, a 3 percent jump from 2011, MNI reports. In second place is New York City with 146,340 jobs, an increase of 3.8 percent, while Chicago comes in third with 107,413 jobs for no significant change from last year.

Of the cities that posted gains are Grand Rapids, Mich., up 7.3 percent; Sunnyvale, Calif., up 6.9 percent; Irvine, Calif., up 3.3 percent; and Louisville, Ky., up 2.7 percent, MNI finds. Meanwhile, cities that recorded losses are Dallas, down 4.4 percent; Los Angeles, down 3.1 percent; and Baltimore, down 2.8 percent. The top 50 cities also are home to 2,728,678 manufacturing jobs, representing 17 of those positions for an increase of 13,465 jobs. This totals to approximately 0.5 percent from January 2012's total.

Only employers located within city limits are calculated in this data, and all municipalities are figured separately from their suburbs and exurbs.

Instant Insights /

Most major U.S. cities added manufacturing jobs in 2012

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