Study: Springfield a leader in ‘manufacturing revival’

A study conducted by economic development publishing network NewGeography.com found Springfield a contender among midsize areas leading what it calls a “manufacturing revival.”

During the past year, industrial employment nationwide added 855,000 jobs, representing a 7.5 percent expansion, according to the report, which cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area ranked sixth in the midsize list, which counts metros ranging from 150,000 to 450,000 jobs.

From 2009 to 2014, manufacturing employment in the Queen City rose by 19.9 percent, ending with 2013-14 growth of 5.9 percent. Last year, 15 jobs out of every 1,000 were in the manufacturing industry, according to the study.

Among midsize metro areas, Toledo, Ohio, topped the list with five-year growth of 27 percent, 2013-14 improvement of 6.7 percent and 44 manufacturing workers per 1,000 jobs last year.

The top six are:
    1.    Toledo, Ohio
    2.    Savannah, Ga.
    3.    Baton Rouge, La.
    4.    Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.
    5.    Bakersfield, Calif.
    6.    Springfield

Springfield ranks 48th nationwide among metropolitan areas measured by the NewGeography.com study.

Topping the overall list was Madera, Calif., which had five-year growth of 60 percent.