Manufacturing employment increased in California for a third straight year, reports the 2015 Directory of California Manufacturers^® an industrial database and directory published by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. According to data collected by MNI, California manufacturers added 31,525 jobs from March 2014 to March 2015, an increase of 2%, slightly ahead of the 1.5% national average increase reported by the Labor Department for the same time period.

Manufacturers’ News reports California is now home to 25,477 manufacturers employing 1,570,656 workers.

“Though far from pre-recession levels, California’s industrial employment continues to inch up,” says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. “With its unparalleled stronghold in tech, an educated workforce and diverse economy, the state is an ideal location for innovative enterprises and traditional industries alike.”

According to Manufacturers’ News, California’s leading industries by employment all posted gains over the year, with employment in the top-ranked electronics sector up a half percent to its current level of 248,572 jobs. Employment in the second-ranked industrial machinery sector climbed 3.4% to 179,442 workers. Jobs in food processing rose 3% over the survey period, with the third-ranked sector currently employing 175,764.

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Most other California industrial sectors posted increases over the survey period with textiles/apparel employment up 3.7%; furniture/fixtures up 2.3%; fabricated metals up 1.8%; and chemicals, also up 1.8%.

The database of manufacturers reports industrial employment in Northern California rose 3.5% and climbed 1% in Southern California. Manufacturing jobs in Los Angeles fell 5.5% to 74,483 workers. Industrial jobs rose 2.2% in San Jose, 1.1% in San Diego, and a half percent in Santa Clara.

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

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Manufacturing Plant photo courtesy of Shutterstock.