CT industrial jobs drop nearly 5 percent

Industrial employment in Connecticut fell 4.8 percent over the past twelve months, according to Manufacturers' News.

The publisher of the 2010 Connecticut Manufacturers Register reports the state lost 11,293 industrial jobs and 213 manufacturers between May 2008 and May 2009, the sharpest decline in the 12 years that Manufacturers' News  Inc. (MNI has been tracking the state's industry.

According to earlier reports by MNI, Connecticut suffered a 3 percent loss in manufacturing employment between 2006 and 2007, and lost 1.3 percent between 2007 and 2008.

MNI eports Connecticut is home to 5,820 manufacturers employing 221,973 workers.

"As with the entire nation, the recession continues to affect Connecticut's industrial sector. However the state's educated workforce and strong exports should help lay the groundwork for recovery," said MNI President Tom Dubin.

MNI reports the state's top industrial sector remains transportation equipment, currently accounting for 39,681 of the state's jobs, down 3.7 percent in the past year. Second-ranked fabricated metals manufacturing accounts for 29,614 jobs, down 4 percent.

Industrial machinery and equipment represents 28,187 of the state's manufacturing jobs, down 3.1 percent in the past 12 months, following layoffs at a Stanadyne Corp. facility in Windsor, among others.

Bright spots for the state include the planned expansion of elastometric component manufacturer Jonal Laboratories and the continued increase in exports from the state -- rising 79 percent from 2004-2008, MNI said, citing government data.

Losses were seen across all of Connecticut's industrial sectors and included primary metals, down 12 percent; electronics down 8.7 percent; rubber/plastics down 8.2 percent and printing/publishing down 7.9 percent, following the closure of printing company Quebecor World Inc. in North Haven.

Employment in furniture/fixtures fell 7 percent; chemicals were down 6.3 percent; stone/clay/glass down 5.8 percent; textiles/apparel down 3 percent and lumber/wood down 2.9 percent.

According to MNI, Hartford, Fairfield and New Haven counties account for 77 percent of the state's manufacturing employment or 171,556 jobs. Hartford County is home to 68,174 jobs, down 6.3 percent while Fairfield County accounts for 56,191 of the state's jobs, down 3.4 percent.

New Haven County's jobs are down 6.3 percent with the county currently home to 47,031 industrial workers. New London County saw the largest decline with industrial jobs down 11.6 percent while Middlesex County lost the fewest, down 1.2 percent over the year.

MNI's city data shows Stratford is the state's top city for manufacturing employment, home to 10,835 jobs, with no significant change in employment reported over the year.

Second-ranked Groton accounts for 7,863 jobs, with employment down 12 percent over the past 12 months. Danbury is home to 7,656 industrial jobs, down 6.2 percent over the year.

Bristol accounts for 7,643 jobs, down 1.4 percent, while Stamford is home to 6,774, down 2 percent over the past 12 months.