Hoeven, Industry Leaders Highlight North Dakota, South Dakota Manufacturing Conference
Hoeven, Industry Leaders Highlight North Dakota, South Dakota Manufacturing Conference
Gov. John Hoeven and officials from the state's manufacturing industry today kicked-off the first ever regional manufacturing conference, Where Manufacturing Matters. The conference, which runs Monday and Tuesday at the Fargo Ramada Plaza Suites, is designed to present North Dakota and South Dakota manufacturers with real world tools, networking opportunities, and access to world-class experts in manufacturing.
Hoeven highlighted the fact that North Dakota was one of only three states in the nation to show growth in manufacturing jobs in 2005. Last year North Dakota gained more than 7,000 jobs and more than 640 new businesses, manufacturing was an important segment of that growth. Since 2001, North Dakota manufacturers have added over 1,900 new jobs according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), while manufacturing employment nationwide has declined.
"North Dakota has innovative and committed manufacturers and we are working hard to help them remain competitive and successful in our state," Hoeven said. "The fact that we were one of only three states in the nation to grow manufacturing employment last year and in the last five years is a real testament to our manufacturers, their employees and to North Dakota's outstanding business climate."
Hoeven said manufacturing is vital to the state's economy and is playing a key role in improving wages and providing attractive job opportunities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that average annual pay for manufacturing jobs in North Dakota was $36,377 in 2005, up from $31,619 in 2001.
North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle said manufacturing is the fourth largest industry in the North Dakota, making up 10 percent of the state's total economy in 2005 and contributing $2.2 billion to the state's gross domestic product according to the BEA.
"Manufacturing plays a major role in generating new wealth for North Dakota, and has been a top contributor of economic growth and diversity to North Dakota's economy in recent years," Goettle said. "Every dollar in sales of a manufactured product supports $1.37 in other sectors of the economy."
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http://www.governor.state.nd.us/media/news-releases/2006/11/061120.html