Tennessee lost 3.1 percent of manufacturing jobs and 140 plants since October of 2005, according to a report released Wednesday.
According to the 2007 Tennessee Manufacturers Register, Tennessee lost 9.4 percent of the state’s manufacturing jobs since October of 2002.
The report said that Tennessee is home to 8,754 manufacturing companies employing 483,172 workers compared to the 8,894 and 498,927 jobs reported a year earlier. The survey profiles both large and small Tennessee manufacturers, including start-up companies with just a few employees.
Memphis ranks among the top manufacturing cities in the Southeast with 893 plants and 48,396 jobs. Nashville accounts for 756 plants and 32,954 jobs, however both cities lost plants this year with Memphis losing six and Nashville losing three.
Printing and publishing is Tennessee's top industrial producer with 1,218 manufacturers on record. Industrial machinery and equipment ranks second with 1,166 manufacturers, while third-ranked lumber and wood products account for 871 plants. These three sectors account for 37% of the state's manufacturers.
According to the study, motor vehicle parts represent the most manufacturing jobs, accounting for 7.6% of Tennessee's industrial employment. Major Tennessee manufacturers in this industry include Nissan and GM automotive assembly plants. The plastic products industry ranks second with 14,525 manufacturing jobs.