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The Complete State by State Guide to Manufacturing

Posted September 13, 2013 & filed under Job Search, References

The Complete State by State Guide to Manufacturing

Accounting for more than 12% of the country’s total GDP, manufacturing still remains a significant part of the American economy. Depending on which state you reside in, however, this number either dwindles or increases as a percentage of total gross state product (GSP).

In one of the most comprehensive and in-depth looks into the impact that manufacturing has on each individual state’s economy, the National Association of Manufacturers has released a report detailing state by state statistics and rankings.

Manufacturing’s share of GSP by state

According to the report, Oregon currently leads the United States with manufacturing making up 28.7% of their GSP. Oregon is closely followed by Indiana and Louisiana, with manufacturing accounting for 26.7% and 25.4% of GSP respectively.

At the bottom of the list sits Hawaii (2.0% of GSP), Nevada (4.0% of GSP), and Alaska (4.1% of GSP). This is not surprising considering that Hawaii and Alaska are not mainland states and over 80% of Nevada’s land is owned by the government.

Manufacturing employment by state

Looking for a job in the manufacturing industry but don’t know where to go? Also included in the report is a full list of states ranked by the percentage of total workers employed by the manufacturing industry. Resting at the top of the list is Indiana with 16.8% of workers being employed by the manufacturing industry. Following in the 2nd and 3rd spots are Wisconsin (16.1%) and Iowa (14.0%). Hawaii (2.2%) Wyoming (3.1%), and Nevada (3.3%) cap off the list in the bottom spots.

Possibility for mobility

With manufacturing still feeling the effects of the recession, many states have experienced any number of up-and-downs in job numbers and exports, but recent innovations in 3D printing and various nanotechnologies could boost the economic performance of multiple states.

How does your state stack up against the others? Check out the full report here.

By Kevin Withers

Image courtesy of Kevin Hutchinson via Flickr