Kansas Industrial Employment Declines 3.2% According to Manufacturers Directory

EVANSTON, Ill., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Manufacturers' News, Inc. -- Industrial
employment in Kansas fell 3.2% over the past twelve months according to the
2009 Kansas Manufacturers Directory, an industrial guide published annually by
Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Kansas lost 7,490
industrial jobs and 44 manufacturers between March 2008 and March 2009, the
first time MNI has reported a loss for the state.

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"As with the entire nation, weakening demand continues to hit many of Kansas'
core sectors," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing
company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "MNI had previously
reported net increases in Kansas' industrial employment, but gains earned over
the past few years have been largely erased by losses weathered by the state
during the recession."

The Directory reported a 1% gain in employment between 2005 and 2006, an
increase of 2.1% between 2006 and 2007, and a 1.5% rise over the 2007-2008
survey period.

Manufacturers' News reports Kansas is home to 4,790 manufacturers employing
227,333 workers. MNI profiles companies of all sizes including start-up
companies with just a few employees.

Transportation equipment remains the state's largest sector by employment with
52,995 of Kansas' industrial jobs, or nearly a quarter of the state, with
employment down 6% over the year following layoffs at aerospace companies such
as Boeing and Hawker Beechcraft. The food products sector follows with 33,381
jobs, down 2.3%, due partially to layoffs at Tyson meats. Third-ranked
industrial machinery and equipment employs 25,823 workers, down 5.4% over the
year.

Job losses were seen across most other sectors over the past twelve months and
included rubber/plastics down 7.8%; lumber/wood down 6%; printing/publishing
down 4.2%; primary metals down 3.5%; electronics down 3.2%; stone/clay/glass
down 2.1%; paper products down 1.9% and chemicals down 1.5%.

Employment remained steady in the furniture/fixtures sectors while fabricated
metal manufacturing saw employment increase 2.4%, partially thanks to the
expansion of Haas Metal Engineering in Topeka. Other bright spots include
Siemens Energy's plans to open a wind turbine equipment plant in Hutchinson
and increased hiring at plastic bag manufacturer Envision.

Manufacturers' News reports Southeast Kansas accounts for over half of the
state's decline, losing 4.1% of its manufacturing employment or 4,743 jobs.
The region is currently home to 110,003 industrial workers. Northeast Kansas
lost 3,202 jobs over the year or 3.3% and currently accounts for 93,075
industrial jobs. Southwest Kansas is currently home to 17,083 jobs, down 3.2%
over the past twelve months.

Northwest Kansas lost the fewest jobs, down 1.1%, and is currently home to
7,147 industrial workers.

MNI's city data shows Wichita is the state's top city for manufacturing
employment and ranks 13th nationally for number of industrial jobs. Wichita is
currently home to 64,280 jobs, down 4.6% over the year. Kansas City accounts
for 13,633 jobs, down 4.1% over the year. Lenexa is home to 9,601 jobs, down
3.1%, while Topeka's industrial employment remained steady, with the city
currently accounting for 9,066 jobs. Fifth-ranked Olathe is home to 7,960
industry jobs, with no significant change reported over the year.

Detailed profiles of Kansas' 4,790 manufacturers and 721 industrial
distributors can be found in the 2009 Kansas Manufacturers Directory,
available in print for $101 and on CD-ROM from $155. Each profile provides up
to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 16,192
executives by name and title, product(s) manufactured, annual sales, number of
employees, and more. Visitors to mnileads.com may generate custom profiles of
manufacturers using thirteen different criteria, including area or zip code,
county, SIC, sales volume, number of employees, and more.

Manufacturers' News, Inc., publisher of manufacturers' directories since 1912,
compiles and produces manufacturing guides, statistics and databases for all
50 states. MNI also maintains IndustryNet.com, an industrial search engine
designed specifically for locating manufacturers and suppliers nationwide. For
more information, contact Manufacturers' News, Inc., 1633 Central St.,
Evanston, IL, 60201, 847-864-7000, FAX 847-332-1100.

SOURCE Manufacturers' News, Inc.

Jennifer Ratcliff of Manufacturers' News, Inc., +1-847-864-9440, Ext. 241,
jratcliff@manufacturersnews.com