Vermont saw a 1.4 percent drop in industrial employment over the past year after losing 634 jobs, according to the 2013 Vermont Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. in Evanston, Ill.

After calculating this decline, Vermont now accounts for 1,415 manufacturing companies with 42,921 workers.

"Manufacturers in Vermont have yet to fully recover from the recession, and the state's large debt burden combined with uncertainty over the fiscal cliff and sequester has put a damper on hiring," says Tom Dubin, president of MNI. "However, the state's educated workforce and abundant natural resources continue to be a draw for new business."

Among Vermont's largest sectors by manufacturing employment are electronics manufacturing with 7,052 jobs, down 8 percent; food products with 5,218 jobs, up 1.4 percent; and industrial machinery and equipment with 3,738 jobs, a 1 percent increase, MNI finds. Of the industrial sectors that reported losses are textiles and apparel at minus 4.2 percent, furniture and fixtures at minus 4.1 percent, paper products at minus 3.1 percent, and instruments and related products at 1.4 percent. Industrial sectors with gains are primary metals at 7.8 percent, lumber and wood at 3.4 percent, fabricated metals at 2.5 percent and transportation equipment at 1.5 percent.

MNI reveals that Essex Junction ranks as Vermont's top city for industrial employment as it is home to 31 manufacturing companies with 6,007 workers, though this is down 7 percent. Other top cities include Burlington with 2,781 jobs, up 1.2 percent; Brattleboro with 1,727 jobs, up 5.4 percent; Saint Albans with 1,484 jobs, down 2.3 percent; and Rutland with 1,424 jobs, representing no significant change.

Instant Insights /

Industrial employment in Vermont drops

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