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The Metro Economies Most Dependent on Manufacturing Jobs

Manufacturing jobs account for a sizable portion of the employment base in many regions. Read our analysis of the top 10 areas, along with data for more than 300 metro areas.

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The economies of many smaller and mid-sized metro areas rely heavily on manufacturing jobs to sustain their labor markets.

Many of these regions are home to one or two large manufacturers that prop up other smaller employers, as discussed in an article in the April issue of Governing. Local officials and economic development groups often go to great lengths to support these companies while simultaneously attempting to diversify their economies.

Some regional economies are supported by industries that fared well during the recession, while others saw their unemployment rates skyrocket.

To determine regions most dependent on manufacturing jobs, Governing compiled Labor Department data for 338 metro areas, shown in the table below. Manufacturing job estimates for February were compared with total nonfarm employment to compute the manufacturing share of each area’s workforce.

Many of the top manufacturing hubs are concentrated across the Upper Midwest. The following ten metro areas were shown to have manufacturing accounting for the highest percentages of total employment, according to Labor Department estimates:

10) Pascagoula, Miss.
Total nonfarm employment: 55,500
Manufacturing employment: 13,200
Manufacturing share of workforce: 23.8 percent

Pascagoula benefits greatly from the presence of Ingalls Shipbuilding, employing more workers than any other manufacturer in Mississippi. Chevron also operates an oil refinery in the metro area, which encompasses two counties in the southeast corner of of the state.

9) Kokomo, Ind.
Total nonfarm employment: 41,700
Manufacturing employment: 10,100
Manufacturing share of workforce: 24.2 percent

Much of Kokomo’s manufacturing base is tied to the automotive and agricultural industries.

Chrysler is the region’s largest employer, with about 5,500 employees in four plants, according to the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance. Auto parts maker Delphi lists another 1,400 local workers on its payrolls.

Like most other auto towns, the area suffered significant job losses during the recession. The metro area’s unemployment rate peaked at 20 percent in the summer of 2009, but has since steadily declined.

8) Racine, Wis.
Total nonfarm employment: 72,600
Manufacturing employment: 18,500
Manufacturing share of workforce: 25.5

Racine County’s largest employer isn’t a manufacturer – it’s the local hospital system.

S.C. Johnson & Son was its largest manufacturing employer as of 2011, with 2,600 workers. CNH America, which builds construction and agricultural equipment, employs another approximately 2,500 workers.

The metro area’s unemployment situation has mostly mirrored the national unemployment rate.

7) Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, N.C.

Total nonfarm employment: 142,500
Manufacturing employment: 36,800
Manufacturing share of workforce: 25.8 percent

The four-county region in western North Carolina is different from most others on the list in that it isn’t supported by just one or two large manufacturers with several thousand jobs.

Grocery store distributor Merchant Distributors, Inc., headquartered in Hickory, employs about 1,700. CommScope and Corning Cable Systems, both of which make telecommunications products, are other top employers. Furniture manufacturing also has a long history in the area.

6) Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis.
Total nonfarm employment: 92,000
Manufacturing employment: 24,700
Manufacturing share of workforce: 26.8 percent

Compared to some other places on this list, the Oshkosh metro area’s labor market has remained relatively strong. Its jobless rate fell below 6 percent last year before rising in January.

One of the area’s largest employers is the Oshkosh Corp., which builds trucks and military vehicles.

5) Holland-Grand Haven, Mich.   
Total nonfarm employment: 112,300
Manufacturing employment: 33,000
Manufacturing share of workforce: 29.4 percent

The region along Lake Michigan is home to multiple major manufacturers. Johnson Controls specializes in the automotive and building industries. Gentex, Corp., headquartered in Zeeland, Mich., makes high-tech electronics products. Both companies employ about 3,500 workers each, according to Lakeshore Advantage, a local nonprofit group.

Outside of manufacturing, Grand Valley State University and a large hospital with about 2,000 employees help drive the region's economy.

4) Sheboygan, Wis.
Total nonfarm employment: 56,200
Manufacturing employment: 18,200
Manufacturing share of workforce: 32.4 percent

The Sheboygan metro area is the corporate headquarters of two major manufacturers: Kohler, which produces various plumbing products, and global plastics maker Bemis Manufacturing Company. An aluminum die-casting company, cheese maker Sargento Foods and several smaller manufacturers also boost the region’s economy.

Sheboygan’s unemployment rate has remained below national levels, mostly hovering around 6 and 7 percent last year.

3) Dalton, Ga.
Total nonfarm employment: 62,900
Manufacturing employment: 20,700
Manufacturing share of workforce: 32.9 percent

If your home has carpeting, there’s a good chance it came from Dalton, Ga. -- often referred to as the carpet capital of the world. The area’s top manufacturers include Shaw Industries (the world’s largest carpet manufacturer), Mohawk Industries and Aladdin Mills.

The recession hit the area hard as the housing market – and the demand for carpeting – plummeted. The Dalton metro area's unemployment rate stood at 11.9 percent in January.

2) Columbus, Ind.
Total nonfarm employment: 46,100
Manufacturing employment: 18,600
Manufacturing share of workforce: 37.9 percent

Columbus, Ind., is home to engine manufacturing giant Cummins, Inc. The company employs 5,549 workers locally and is easily the area’s largest employer, according to the Columbus Economic Development Board. The region also supports numerous auto parts makers and a Toyota plant.

But you'll have to drive further north to find the area with the highest share of manufacturing jobs.

1) Elkhart-Goshen, Ind.   
Total nonfarm employment: 112,600
Manufacturing employment: 50,900
Manufacturing share of workforce: 45.2 percent

The manufacturing sector accounts for a staggering 45 percent of the Elkhart-Goshen area’s total jobs – by far the most of any region in the country.

In 2009, the area’s unemployment rate soared to more than 20 percent, prompting multiple visits from president Obama. Elkhart later appeared in the 2010 State of the Union address as Obama laid out his plans for job creation.
 
RV makers and related companies supply most of the region's manufacturing jobs. In all, Elkhart County employs more than 20,000 transportation equipment workers.

Dorinda Heiden-Guss, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County, said the region benefits from its central location, near both an interstate and railroad lines.

While employment remains below pre-recession levels, the region’s economy is on its way to recovering. Existing companies invested $137 million locally last year, creating thousands of new jobs. The metro area’s jobless rate fell sharply, accordingly.

“We were hit hard, but those companies that were nimble and flexible have grown at a significant rate,” Heiden-Guss said.
 

Metro Area Employment Data



 
       
Metro Area % Manufacturing Employment Manufacturing Employment Nonfarm Employment
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 45.2 50,900 112,600
Columbus, IN 37.9 18,600 49,100
Dalton, GA 32.9 20,700 62,900
Sheboygan, WI 32.4 18,200 56,200
Holland-Grand Haven, MI 29.4 33,000 112,300
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI 26.8 24,700 92,000
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 25.8 36,800 142,500
Racine, WI 25.5 18,500 72,600
Kokomo, IN 24.2 10,100 41,700
Pascagoula, MS 23.8 13,200 55,500
Morristown, TN 23.5 10,500 44,700
Fond du Lac, WI 22.8 10,200 44,700
Rockford, IL 22.1 32,400 146,800
Wausau, WI 21.8 14,200 65,100
Decatur, AL 21.7 11,700 53,800
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI 20.7 12,600 60,800
Spartanburg, SC 20.7 25,800 124,600
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 20.7 11,900 57,500
Battle Creek, MI 20.5 11,400 55,700
Logan, UT-ID 20.3 11,100 54,700
Cleveland, TN 19.7 8,500 43,100
Anderson, SC 19.7 12,000 60,900
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 19.5 17,900 92,000
Appleton, WI 19.4 22,400 115,500
Decatur, IL 19.2 9,600 50,000
Michigan City-La Porte, IN 18.9 7,800 41,300
Wichita, KS 18.7 53,400 285,800
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA 18.4 21,900 118,900
Napa, CA 18.4 11,700 63,700
Mansfield, OH 18.2 9,300 51,200
Danville, IL 18.2 5,300 29,200
York-Hanover, PA 17.9 31,400 175,800
Erie, PA 17.7 22,800 128,700
Sandusky, OH 17.6 5,800 33,000
Rocky Mount, NC 17.5 9,900 56,700
Lebanon, PA 17.5 8,900 51,000
Reading, PA 17.4 29,700 170,700
Danville, VA 17.1 6,900 40,300
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 17.1 156,300 915,200
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 17.0 66,000 387,100
Green Bay, WI 17.0 28,400 166,900
Lafayette, IN 17.0 16,600 97,700
Longview, WA 16.9 6,000 35,500
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD 16.5 12,200 73,800
Fort Wayne, IN 16.4 33,900 206,300
Jackson, MI 16.3 8,700 53,300
Evansville, IN-KY 16.2 28,300 174,400
Terre Haute, IN 16.2 11,400 70,500
Fort Smith, AR-OK 16.1 18,700 116,000
Joplin, MO 16.0 12,800 79,800
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL 16.0 8,900 55,500
Canton-Massillon, OH 15.9 26,300 164,900
Sumter, SC 15.9 5,900 37,200
Lancaster, PA 15.7 35,800 227,900
Owensboro, KY 15.4 8,100 52,700
Peoria, IL 15.3 27,700 180,500
Greensboro-High Point, NC 15.3 51,900 339,800
Burlington, NC 15.1 8,800 58,200
Springfield, OH 14.8 7,300 49,200
Williamsport, PA 14.7 8,300 56,300
Lima, OH 14.7 7,500 50,900
Cedar Rapids, IA 14.7 20,500 139,800
St. Cloud, MN 14.6 14,700 100,900
Rome, GA 14.5 5,600 38,500
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 14.5 117,900 810,600
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ 14.5 8,100 56,000
Merced, CA 14.4 8,300 57,600
Jackson, TN 14.2 8,700 61,400
Lynchburg, VA 14.0 14,500 103,300
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 13.9 22,500 161,500
Janesville, WI 13.9 8,500 61,200
Toledo, OH 13.9 41,700 300,500
Gadsden, AL 13.8 5,000 36,200
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA 13.8 30,400 220,500
Bowling Green, KY 13.8 8,500 61,700
Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV 13.8 6,000 43,600
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI 13.6 18,600 136,400
Tuscaloosa, AL 13.6 13,200 97,100
Waco, TX 13.5 14,600 107,900
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL 13.5 24,500 181,100
Greeley, CO 13.5 11,300 84,000
Elmira, NY 13.4 5,200 38,700
Monroe, MI 13.4 5,100 38,000
Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, MI 13.2 11,100 84,000
Modesto, CA 13.1 19,300 146,900
Chattanooga, TN-GA 13.0 30,600 235,800
Eau Claire, WI 13.0 10,700 82,500
Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner, MA NECTA 12.7 6,000 47,100
Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC 12.7 38,900 306,600
Elizabethtown, KY 12.7 6,100 48,100
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI 12.7 16,800 132,500
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO 12.7 27,300 215,500
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI 12.4 224,200 1,808,600
Altoona, PA 12.4 7,400 59,700
Sherman-Denison, TX 12.3 5,300 43,100
Burlington-South Burlington, VT NECTA 12.3 14,400 117,300
Kankakee-Bradley, IL 12.3 5,300 43,200
Waterbury, CT NECTA 12.3 7,600 62,000
New Bedford, MA NECTA 12.2 8,100 66,200
Akron, OH 12.2 39,600 324,600
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH 12.1 122,000 1,007,800
Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN 12.0 74,000 614,200
Lewiston, ID-WA 12.0 3,100 25,800
Tulsa, OK 11.9 50,700 425,100
Anniston-Oxford, AL 11.9 5,700 47,800
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA 11.8 5,200 43,900
Binghamton, NY 11.8 12,500 106,200
Amarillo, TX 11.7 13,200 112,600
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 11.6 33,500 287,900
Clarksville, TN-KY 11.6 10,100 87,400
Glens Falls, NY 11.6 6,100 52,800
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 11.5 23,200 201,900
Lexington-Fayette, KY 11.4 29,100 255,500
Norwich-New London, CT-RI NECTA 11.3 14,100 124,400
Bloomington, IN 11.3 9,200 81,600
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 11.3 113,200 1,004,200
Victoria, TX 11.3 5,900 52,400
Rochester, NY 11.3 57,100 507,500
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA 11.2 19,300 172,400
La Crosse, WI-MN 11.2 8,300 74,300
Longview, TX 11.2 11,400 102,100
Springfield, MA-CT NECTA 11.1 30,800 277,600
Bay City, MI 11.1 4,000 36,100
Hanford-Corcoran, CA 11.0 3,900 35,400
Bellingham, WA 11.0 8,800 80,000
Visalia-Porterville, CA 10.9 12,000 109,600
Roanoke, VA 10.9 17,200 157,400
Montgomery, AL 10.9 18,100 166,500
Dayton, OH 10.8 40,400 372,600
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 10.8 186,200 1,722,100
Asheville, NC 10.7 18,500 172,300
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 10.7 36,600 342,800
Madera-Chowchilla, CA 10.6 3,500 33,000
Huntsville, AL 10.6 22,000 207,700
Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN 10.6 104,900 991,200
Mobile, AL 10.6 18,400 173,900
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA 10.5 26,700 253,200
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 10.5 20,700 196,900
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartfo, CT 10.5 57,000 542,800
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 10.4 29,300 281,800
Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH 10.3 7,000 67,800
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 10.3 181,200 1,766,100
Rochester-Dover, NH-ME NECTA 10.2 5,700 55,900
Savannah, GA 9.9 15,600 157,100
Yakima, WA 9.9 7,500 75,900
Auburn-Opelika, AL 9.9 5,500 55,700
Knoxville, TN 9.8 32,700 333,100
Worcester, MA-CT NECTA 9.8 23,500 240,300
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA 9.8 519,200 5,316,000
Johnson City, TN 9.8 7,700 78,900
Boulder, CO 9.7 16,600 171,000
Pittsfield, MA NECTA 9.6 3,300 34,400
Lewiston-Auburn, ME NECTA 9.6 4,500 47,000
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI 9.6 413,200 4,316,500
Lake Charles, LA 9.6 8,800 92,100
Rochester, MN 9.6 10,000 104,700
Sioux Falls, SD 9.5 13,300 139,300
New Haven, CT NECTA 9.5 25,400 266,200
Winston-Salem, NC 9.5 19,500 205,000
Carson City, NV 9.5 2,600 27,400
Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA NECTA 9.4 50,700 538,100
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 9.3 50,400 539,700
Greenville, NC 9.3 7,600 81,500
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 9.3 19,900 213,800
Anderson, IN 9.3 3,700 39,800
Indianapolis-Carmel, IN 9.2 83,800 909,600
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 9.1 249,800 2,752,100
Boise City-Nampa, ID 9.0 24,000 266,600
Flint, MI 8.9 12,000 134,100
Medford, OR 8.9 6,600 74,000
Stockton, CA 8.9 16,900 190,400
Wichita Falls, TX 8.9 5,200 58,700
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 8.7 69,700 797,500
Monroe, LA 8.7 6,700 77,000
Provo-Orem, UT 8.7 17,100 196,800
Eugene-Springfield, OR 8.6 12,100 141,100
Coeur d'Alene, ID 8.5 4,400 51,700
Utica-Rome, NY 8.5 10,700 126,500
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT NECTA 8.4 33,500 396,600
Lansing-East Lansing, MI 8.4 18,400 217,900
St. Louis, MO-IL 8.4 108,300 1,286,500
Pocatello, ID 8.4 3,000 35,700
Salt Lake City, UT 8.4 55,100 655,900
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA 8.4 10,000 119,400
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO 8.4 11,500 137,500
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 8.3 255,200 3,064,300
Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC 8.3 70,700 855,800
Muncie, IN 8.2 4,200 51,200
Dothan, AL 8.2 4,600 56,400
Madison, WI 8.1 28,100 344,800
San Angelo, TX 8.1 3,800 46,900
Lawton, OK 8.0 3,500 43,500
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH 7.9 8,900 112,100
Corvallis, OR 7.9 3,100 39,100
Columbia, SC 7.9 28,000 354,400
Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville, SC 7.8 23,700 302,800
Syracuse, NY 7.8 24,400 312,400
Manchester, NH NECTA 7.8 7,600 97,900
Pittsburgh, PA 7.7 88,300 1,139,500
Fresno, CA 7.7 21,600 280,300
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH NECTA 7.7 191,500 2,488,700
Fargo, ND-MN 7.7 10,000 130,500
Odessa, TX 7.6 5,700 74,600
Birmingham-Hoover, AL 7.6 38,000 497,600
Lincoln, NE 7.6 13,400 175,700
Salem, OR 7.6 10,700 140,400
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 7.6 14,700 193,500
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV 7.6 7,700 101,500
Champaign-Urbana, IL 7.5 7,900 105,800
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC 7.4 55,200 742,600
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA 7.4 93,500 1,267,000
Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA 7.4 7,200 97,900
Hattiesburg, MS 7.3 4,400 60,000
Memphis, TN-MS-AR 7.3 44,000 600,000
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 7.3 85,500 1,166,300
Kansas City, MO-KS 7.3 71,800 983,900
Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR 7.3 4,100 56,400
Lafayette, LA 7.2 11,400 157,400
Spokane, WA 7.2 15,000 208,200
Ocala, FL 7.1 6,700 94,000
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY 7.1 17,800 250,200
Albany, GA 7.1 4,300 60,800
Fayetteville, NC 7.1 9,200 130,100
Pueblo, CO 7.1 4,100 58,100
Baton Rouge, LA 7.1 26,900 381,400
Springfield, MO 7.0 13,800 197,800
Flagstaff, AZ 6.9 4,300 61,900
Idaho Falls, ID 6.9 3,400 49,000
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA 6.9 11,800 170,400
Columbus, OH 6.9 65,200 941,800
Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME NECTA 6.8 12,600 184,700
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA 6.8 31,400 461,700
Johnstown, PA 6.8 4,000 58,900
Ann Arbor, MI 6.8 14,000 206,700
Topeka, KS 6.7 7,300 108,800
Bergen-Hudson-Passaic, NJ 6.7 58,500 878,500
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 6.6 180,200 2,713,700
Grand Forks, ND-MN 6.6 3,700 55,800
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 6.5 116,500 1,787,700
Jackson, MS 6.4 16,500 258,000
Tucson, AZ 6.3 23,200 365,700
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA 6.3 2,400 37,900
Bend, OR 6.3 3,800 60,500
El Paso, TX 6.3 17,800 284,700
Portsmouth, NH-ME NECTA 6.3 3,400 54,400
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA 6.2 20,000 321,800
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 6.2 146,600 2,369,000
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 6.1 5,600 91,100
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA 6.1 6,300 103,500
Morgantown, WV 6.0 4,100 67,800
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 6.0 50,700 840,100
Reno-Sparks, NV 6.0 11,400 189,300
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ 6.0 2,700 44,900
El Centro, CA 6.0 2,800 46,800
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 6.0 19,400 325,600
Oklahoma City, OK 5.9 35,400 597,500
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR 5.8 19,900 340,400
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 5.8 115,000 1,994,000
Yuba City, CA 5.7 2,100 36,600
College Station-Bryan, TX 5.7 5,600 98,800
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA 5.6 30,000 531,900
Tyler, TX 5.6 5,300 94,100
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL 5.6 14,000 248,900
Bakersfield-Delano, CA 5.5 13,400 242,200
Duluth, MN-WI 5.5 7,100 129,200
Kingston, NY 5.5 3,300 60,100
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX 5.4 7,100 130,800
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL 5.4 8,500 156,900
Wilmington, NC 5.4 7,300 135,900
Dover, DE 5.3 3,300 62,300
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 5.3 46,600 881,400
State College, PA 5.3 4,000 76,000
Wheeling, WV-OH 5.3 3,400 64,700
Corpus Christi, TX 5.2 9,800 188,500
Raleigh-Cary, NC 5.2 27,100 523,500
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 5.2 22,700 438,800
St. George, UT 5.1 2,500 48,800
Richmond, VA 5.0 31,500 624,300
Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO 5.0 62,800 1,249,900
Prescott, AZ 5.0 2,800 55,900
Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach, FL 5.0 3,500 70,100
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA 5.0 8,700 174,500
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS 5.0 5,200 104,300
Colorado Springs, CO 5.0 12,500 251,200
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 5.0 58,500 1,180,300
Bloomington-Normal, IL 4.9 4,400 90,000
Ithaca, NY 4.7 3,300 69,700
Albuquerque, NM 4.7 17,100 363,500
Chico, CA 4.7 3,200 68,600
Jacksonville, FL 4.6 27,900 607,300
Rapid City, SD 4.5 2,700 59,900
Casper, WY 4.5 1,800 40,300
Grand Junction, CO 4.4 2,600 59,500
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 4.4 5,800 133,000
Putnam-Rockland-Westchester, NY 4.4 24,100 553,800
Baltimore-Towson, MD 4.2 55,700 1,322,400
Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA 4.2 34,600 823,300
Midland, TX 4.2 3,500 84,000
Port St. Lucie, FL 4.2 5,200 124,900
Redding, CA 4.1 2,300 55,700
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA 4.1 350,900 8,509,000
Salinas, CA 4.1 5,000 123,200
Bangor, ME NECTA 4.0 2,600 64,500
Abilene, TX 4.0 2,700 67,100
Palm Coast, FL 4.0 800 20,000
Yuma, AZ 4.0 2,100 52,500
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL 4.0 3,100 78,300
Las Cruces, NM 3.9 2,700 69,200
Lubbock, TX 3.8 5,000 130,400
Charleston, WV 3.8 5,500 145,400
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL 3.7 1,700 46,300
Fort Lauderdale-Pompnao-Deerfield Beach, FL 3.6 26,800 741,900
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 3.6 37,600 1,051,400
Trenton-Ewing, NJ 3.5 8,600 243,700
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL 3.4 5,600 163,600
Gainesville, FL 3.4 4,500 132,400
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL 3.3 76,600 2,306,000
Olympia, WA 3.2 3,100 98,400
Barnstable Town, MA NECTA 3.1 2,800 91,700
Cheyenne, WY 2.9 1,300 45,100
Springfield, IL 2.7 3,000 110,200
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX 2.7 6,300 232,400
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 2.5 2,000 80,700
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 2.4 20,000 826,500
Bismarck, ND 2.4 1,600 66,700
Honolulu, HI 2.4 10,700 449,600
Calvert-Charles-Prince George's, MD 2.3 8,400 372,800
Naples-Marco Island, FL 2.2 2,700 120,900
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL 2.0 4,300 211,900
Tallahassee, FL 1.9 3,200 166,800
Punta Gorda, FL 1.9 800 42,400
Northern Virginia, VA 1.6 21,600 1,348,200
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1.6 47,900 3,033,100
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 1.6 2,000 128,300
Anchorage, AK 1.3 2,300 174,700
Fairbanks, AK 1.3 500 38,100
Santa Fe, NM 1.2 700 60,300
Laredo, TX 0.7 700 95,300

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, February employment estimates.
Please note that data was not included for metro areas without estimates for manufacturing employment.


Mike Maciag is Data Editor for GOVERNING.
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