Manufacturing employment etched out a meager gain of 0.7 percent in 2000. The average wage did much better with an 8.8 percent gain to $47,446.

The largest two-digit sector within Manufacturing is Industrial and Commercial Machinery and Computer Equipment with 31,124 jobs. This represented a 766-job decline compared to a 2,113 loss in 1999. The average wage increased by 14.5 percent to $65,064.

Employment growth in Printing, Publishing, and Allied Industries nearly ceased in 2000. The sector only added 94 jobs to average 28,909. The average wage increased by 10.1 percent to $38,967.

The third largest Manufacturing sector is Electronic and other Electrical Equipment and Components, Except Computer Equipment. Growth resumed in this sector after a one-year hiatus with 1,684 additional jobs to average 21,890. The average salary increased from $51,598 to $59,368.

Measuring, Analyzing, and Controlling Instruments employment held steady with a gain of 0.5 percent to 21,315. The average wage increased at the same rate as the state as a whole at 8.7 percent. Instruments to Measure Electricity’s employment increased by 548 jobs to 4,573, while Electromedical Equipment employment increased by 364 to 1,549.

Growth resumed in Fabricated Metal Products with a gain of 696 jobs to 14,696. The gain was widespread with 25 of 35 four-digit codes reporting greater employment.

Food and Kindred Products employment reversed a downward trend with a 1.0 percent gain to 24,273. Within Food and Kindred Products, the results were mixed with 22 of 42 four-digit codes showing an increase. The largest increase was in Food Preparations, NEC with an increase of 265 jobs to 1,856 and the biggest loss was in Meat Packing Plants with a loss of 199 jobs to 5,620.

Stone, Clay, Glass, and Concrete Products’ employment continued its steady construction related ascent with a gain of 504 jobs to 11,247. Leading the sector was Ready-Mixed Concrete with an addition of 171 jobs to average 2,929 and Concrete Block and Brick, up 101 to 772.

Employment in Apparel Manufacturing declined for the fourth straight year with a loss of 403 jobs to 3,568. Wages in this sector were considerably below average at $24,140 per annum.

Lumber and Wood Products, Except Furniture continued to see increased employment levels. The sector went from 6,352 jobs to 6,436 due to an increase of 199 jobs in Millwork. This gain was offset by an 80-job loss in Mobile homes and a 62-job loss in Structural Wood Members, NEC.