Job losses, but not as severe

Virginia has lost manufacturing jobs this year, but the decline has not been as severe as in some other mid-Atlantic and Southern states, according to one industry research firm.

The state lost almost 2,700 manufacturing jobs from October 2007 to October 2008, a decline of less than 1 percent, according to research by Manufacturers' News Inc., an Evanston, Ill.-based company that publishes an annual directory of manufacturing companies in Virginia and other states.

In comparison, the company's survey showed declines of 3.3 percent in Tennessee, 2.6 percent in Kentucky, 2.3 percent in North Carolina and 1.2 percent in Pennsylvania.

Virginia has 7,231 manufacturers that employ 374,471 people, according to the Manufacturers' News survey. That number is significantly higher than the 274,300 manufacturing jobs reported by the Virginia Employment Commission, because Manufacturers' News uses a broader definition of manufacturing jobs. For example, the Manufacturers' News figures include some jobs in mining and printing that would not be counted as manufacturing in the state tally, a company spokeswoman said.

The Virginia Employment Commission reported a decline of 1,600 manufacturing jobs in the state, also less than 1 percent, from October 2007 to October 2008.

The Manufacturers' News figures do not include recent job cuts in manufacturing, such as computer chip manufacturer Qimonda's work force reduction of about 1,200 people at its Henrico County plant.

Factors behind the overall decline in manufacturing include global competition, consolidation in some industries and the growing use of automation, said Jennifer Ratcliff, a spokeswoman for Manufacturers' News.

"Now, the recession clearly has a huge impact as well," Ratcliff said. "Our numbers at the moment may not reflect all of that, but will in the future."

The survey showed declines in textiles and apparel, furniture, chemicals, food products, machinery and equipment. Gains were seen in transportation equipment, printing, fabricated metals and electronics.
Contact John Reid Blackwell at (804) 775-8123 or .