Manufacturers’ News, Inc.– For the first time in thirteen years, Rhode Island gained manufacturing jobs, reports the 2014 Rhode Island Manufacturers Register^®, an industrial directory and database published by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI). According to data collected by MNI, manufacturers in Rhode Island added 1,045 jobs from Dec. 2012 to Dec. 2013, an increase of 1.8%, the first time MNI recorded a gain for the state since 2000.

Manufacturers’ News reports Rhode Island is now home to 1,765 manufacturers employing 59,092 workers.

MNI reports employment in transportation equipment grew 14.8% following an expansion of submarine builder Electric Boat in Quonset. Other gains included rubber/plastics, up 5.3%; jewelry making, up 4.7%; primary metals, up 4.6%; stone/clay/glass, up 3.5%; and furniture, up 2.7%.

“High business costs, automation, and outsourcing have affected Rhode Island’s manufacturing sector for over a decade,” says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company. “This year’s gain hopefully marks a turnaround for the state.”

Losses were reported in lumber/wood, down 6.1%; and paper products, down 2.2%.

Providence remains the state’s top city for manufacturing employment, with 8,424 jobs, unchanged over the year. Other top cities include Pawtucket, with 6,462 jobs, down 4.2%; North Kingstown, with 5,679 jobs, up 14.3%; and Cranston, with 5,169 jobs, up 2.6%.

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Detailed profiles of all Rhode Island manufacturers and distributors can be found in the 2014 Rhode Island Manufacturers Register^® available in print or online. Established in 1912, Manufacturers’ News, Inc. is the nation’s oldest and largest publisher of industrial information. MNI offers a variety of tailored solutions to help customers connect with 430,000 manufacturers and suppliers, from print directories to online subscriptions. MNI’s industrial database subscription service EZ Select: http://www.ezselect.com allows users to tap into a live interactive database of manufacturers, while its industrial search engine IndustryNet: http://www.industrynet.com connects buyers and suppliers and allows users to view profiles and obtain competitive quotes. MNI’s traditional print directories are published for each state and include in-depth profiles of every manufacturer in the U.S. For more information, contact Manufacturers’ News, Inc. 847-864-7000. http://www.manufacturersnews.com