News Release from Manufacturers News  February 21, 2011

Industrial employment in Hawaii fell 1.1% over the past twelve months according to the 2011 Hawaii Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Hawaii lost 255 industrial jobs between December 2009 and December 2010, less than half the loss MNI reported over the 2008-2009 survey period.

Manufacturers' News reports Hawaii is now home to 1,200 manufacturers employing 21,922 workers.

"Hawaii's industrial sectors continue to be affected by the recession," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "However, we're definitely seeing fewer job losses than we did a year ago and the state's strong exports and investments in green technologies are helping the recovery along."

Bright spots for the state include the planned opening of Korean electric car manufacturer CT&T's assembly plant, which will eventually employ 400; the proposed construction of an Aina Koa Pono, LLC biofuel plant; and the construction of Big Island Biodiesel LLC's biofuel production facility.

Food products remains the state's largest industrial sector by employment with 7,318 jobs, with no significant change reported over the year. Printing/publishing ranks second with 3,527 jobs, down 11.4%, following the closure of the Honolulu Advertiser. Third-ranked textiles/apparel accounts for 1,842 jobs, down 6.6% over the past twelve months.

MNI reports employment in most of Hawaii's industrial sectors remained steady over the year. Sectors that lost jobs included paper products, down 9.1%; stone/clay/glass down 6.3% and industrial machinery and equipment, down 5.1%.

Oahu is home to the most industrial employment in Hawaii, accounting for 16,777 jobs, down 1.5% over the year. The Big Island accounts for 2,515 jobs, with no significant change reported. Maui is home to 2,063 manufacturing jobs, down 2.7% since December 2009, while Kauai accounts for 567, down 3.8% over the year.

Honolulu is home to 11,363 industrial jobs, down 1% over the year. Kapolei accounts for 2,393 jobs, down 3.2% since December 2009. Aiea saw employment decrease 8.2% and is currently home to 1,093 industrial workers, while Waipahu accounts for 1,037 of the state's jobs, up 2.6% over the year. Puunene jobs are also up 2.6%, with the fifth-ranked city home to 944 workers.

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