In contrast to losses suffered by most of New England and the Northeast, industrial employment in Rhode Island posted a gain in 2014, reports the 2015 Rhode Island Manufacturers Register ^®, a manufacturers database and directory published by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. According to data collected by MNI, Rhode Island manufacturers added 915 jobs from December 2013 to December 2014, a 1.5% increase, in line with the 1.7% national average gain reported by the Labor Department for the same time period.

Manufacturers’ News reports Rhode Island is now home to 1,703 manufacturers employing 58,967 workers. Rhode Island’s industrial employment increase was a rare bright spot among New England states, with recent MNI reports citing a 1.6% loss in Maine, a 1.3% loss in Vermont, and a 1% decline in New Hampshire.

“Though far from pre-recession levels, Rhode Island’s industrial sector continues to pick up speed, and employment has risen accordingly,” says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. “Its ideal location along the eastern seaboard and skilled workforce has helped boost investment, and recent business incentive efforts should help the state move forward.”

According to Manufacturers’ News, gains were led by the transportation equipment industry, which posted a 13.5% rise in employment. Growth was also recorded in the state’s long-ailing jewelry industry, with jobs up 6.7%. Additional gains were seen in textiles, up 7.5% and food products, up 1.9%.

For the full story, including companies expanding in Rhode Island click here or visit http://www.manufacturersnews.com/news

MNI reports Providence ranks first in the state for industrial employment with 8,026 jobs, down 4.7% in 2014. Manufacturing employment rose 9.3% in North Kingstown and 1.1% in Cranston.

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. MNI’s industrial database subscription service EZ Select allows users to tap into a live interactive database of manufacturers, while its industrial search engine IndustryNet connects buyers and suppliers and allows users to view profiles and obtain competitive quotes. For more information, contact Manufacturers’ News, Inc. 847-864-7000. http://www.manufacturersnews.com