Industrial Directory Reports Georgia Lost Fewer Manufacturing Jobs Over Past Year

/PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in Georgia fell 4.2% over the past twelve months according to the 2011 Georgia Manufacturers Register®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports Georgia lost 21,757 industrial jobs between April 2009 and April 2010, roughly half the number of jobs MNI reported lost over the 2008-2009 survey period. MNI had recorded a loss of 48,904 industrial jobs or nearly 9% from April 2008 to April 2009.

Manufacturers' News reports Georgia is now home to 10,349 manufacturers employing 486,109 workers.

"The recession, combined with weak demand for housing and building materials, continues to contribute to the employment decline," said Tom Dubin, President of Manufacturers' News. "But manufacturing in Georgia is starting to pick up, with companies taking advantage of the state's favorable business climate."

Food products manufacturing remains Georgia's largest industrial sector by employment, accounting for 67,348 of the state's jobs, down 3.1% over the year, following the closures of two Pilgrim's Pride chicken processing plants, among others. Textiles and apparel ranks second with 62,019 industrial jobs, down 9.5%, due partially to closures and layoffs at carpet and flooring company Shaw Industries and carpet maker Mohawk Industries. Industrial machinery and equipment ranks as the state's third largest manufacturing sector with 43,546 of the state's industrial jobs, down 4.6% over the past twelve months.

MNI reports other industrial sectors that lost jobs over the past year included lumber/wood down 10.6%; rubber/plastics down 10.5%; printing/publishing down 7.7%; stone/clay/glass down 6.7%; electronics down 6.6%; furniture/fixtures down 3.9%; fabricated metal down 3.5%; transportation equipment down 3.1%; and primary metals down 2.9%.

Bright spots for the state included the opening of Kia's first North American manufacturing plant in West Point, the opening of a Johnson Controls plant, also in West Point, which will supply the Kia plant, the re-opening of a previously shuttered Pilgrim's Pride plant in Douglas, and the planned expansion of auto supplier ZF Group with the construction of a plant that will produce gear boxes for wind turbines. Other companies expanding or opening in Georgia include De Wafelbakkers, which plans a processing facility in McDonough; pet care products manufacturer Animal Health & Sciences; MAGE Solar; ATM manufacturer NCR Corporation; and Belgian flooring manufacturer IVC Group.

MNI reports industrial jobs declined the most in Southwest Georgia, down 10.2% over the year, with the region currently accounting for 35,730 manufacturing jobs. Industrial jobs declined 7.8% in South Central Georgia, with the region home to 47,992 workers, while Southeast Georgia saw a drop of 4.7%, currently home to 38,377. Northeast Georgia saw a decline of 4.5%, and is currently home to 77,382, while industrial jobs declined 2.7% in Northwest Georgia, with the region accounting for the most industrial employment with 286,628 jobs.

Atlanta remains the state's top city by industrial employment, accounting for 57,007 manufacturing jobs, up 2% over the past twelve months. Dalton saw employment decrease 8.5% and is currently home to 23,276 industrial workers. Marietta accounts for 16,109 industrial jobs, down 2.8%, while Alpharetta saw jobs drop 10.5% and currently accounts for 15,048 industrial jobs. Fifth-ranked Norcross accounts for 14,202, down 1.2% over the year.

Detailed profiles of Georgia's 10,349 manufacturers and 1,873 industrial distributors can be found in the 2011 Georgia Manufacturers Register®, available in print for $141 and on CD-ROM from $230. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 36,694 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. Information is also available on Facebook and Twitter.

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Georgia Headed into Troubled Economy Before Fully Recovering From 2001 Recession

A report released today by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute concludes that even as the current economic slowdown hit, Georgia families were still trying to recover from the 2001 recession and its aftermath. The report, State of Working Georgia 2008, examines job growth, unemployment, income, and benefits, using data from the Current Population Survey and American Community Survey, among other sources.

The key findings surrounding the current economic slowdown include:

* From September 2007 to September 2008, Georgia lost 61,100 nonfarm jobs and was one of only five states to experience a statistically significant employment decrease, according to preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
* The number of unemployed workers rose by roughly 100,000 between September 2007 and September 2008, for a total of 317,500 out-of-work Georgians in September 2008. Georgia had the 15th highest unemployment rate in the nation in September.

Data for 2007 on underemployment, incomes, and benefits show that Georgia workers had not fully regained the ground lost during the 2001 recession. In short, before the 2008 economic crisis started, Georgians were still trying to recover from the 2001 recession, as was the case in many states. Data from BLS and Census Bureau surveys show:

* About 8 percent of workers were underemployed in 2007, compared to 6.3 percent in 2001. Underemployed includes unemployed workers, marginally attached workers, and part-time workers who would like full-time jobs.
* Median household income in 2007 remained statistically unchanged compared to 2001, after adjusting for inflation.
* The poverty rate remained high at 14.3 percent in 2007, compared to 11.7 percent in 2001.
* In 2006-2007, 59.9 percent of non-elderly Georgians were covered by employer-sponsored health insurance, compared to 64.4 percent in 2000-2001. The percent of Georgians lacking health coverage rose from 15.0 percent in 2000-2001 to 17.6 percent in 2006-2007.

"The employment conditions in Georgia pose both short-term and long-term challenges, as policymakers must confront the current slowdown and the continued effects of the 2001 recession," noted Sarah Beth Gehl, Deputy Director of GBPI. "For the short-term, our leaders must protect vital public services as workers face unemployment and increased income insecurity. For the long-term, policymakers should focus on raising adult education levels and strengthening work and income supports for workers in low-paying jobs."

The report also examines employment conditions and income based on race, gender, and education, as well as income earned by each income quintile. The report provides budget and policy recommendations for both the current economic crisis and the long-term economic challenges faced by low-income working families.

Short-term recommendations -

* Call on Congress to pass an economic recovery package that includes additional weeks of unemployment benefits, a temporary increase in Food Stamp benefits, and state fiscal relief. (For estimates on the additional funds Georgia would receive under U.S. House and Senate packages, find tables at the end of this report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.)
* Target budget cuts to lower priority programs. With a potential $2 billion state budget shortfall, the state has made across-the-board budget cuts to most state agencies. As Georgia families experience dramatic financial strain in 2008, leaders must ensure that vital government services are adequately funded. Medicaid, PeachCare, child care, and education, to name a few, should be spared as much as possible.
* Raise revenues through strategic tax increases. Rather than relying overwhelming on budget cuts, there should a balanced approached to the budget shortfall, including strategic tax increases. Raising the cigarette tax or implementing a temporary income tax surcharge, for example, would provide needed revenues to avoid further cuts to public services.
* Use the revenue shortfall reserve. Through good fiscal management, Georgia has a $1 billion rainy day fund. Now is the time to use it.

Long-term recommendations -

* Increase the capacity for adult basic education. Georgia invests around $14 per adult without a GED in adult basic education, compared to the national average of $64. Georgia should increase its investment in this area, along with outreach efforts towards nontraditional students and support services for families seeking education opportunities.
* Undertake additional outreach efforts for Medicaid and PeachCare. Of the 300,000 uninsured children in Georgia, an estimated 200,000 are eligible for Medicaid or PeachCare, but not enrolled. Getting eligible children and families enrolled in existing programs can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of available healthcare programs. The federal government covers a majority of the cost of these programs, with an almost 2 to 1 match for Medicaid and 3 to 1 match for PeachCare.
* Increase child care assistance for low- and moderate-income working families. Georgia uses federal dollars to assist low-income families with child care costs, but continues to have a waiting list for assistance. At the same time, Georgia subsidizes child care through the tax system, with millions of forgone tax dollars subsiziding child care for upper-income families. Policymakers should end the child care subsidy for higher-income Georgians and more fully assist low-income working families.
* Create a state earned income tax credit (EITC), enhance outreach efforts around the federal EITC, and raise the state minimum wage to the federal level.

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Simmons Consolidates Atlanta Manufacturing Operations into Existing Facilities

BUSINESS WIRE --Simmons Bedding Company announced today that it is transitioning its Atlanta manufacturing operations to the company’s facilities in Dallas, Texas; Waycross, Ga. and Charlotte, N.C. with an anticipated effective date of September 18. The move is part of an ongoing effort to optimize Simmons’ operations network in the southeastern United States and will create a more efficient production and delivery system without disrupting service to retailers in the region.

“The decision to close our Atlanta manufacturing facility is a very difficult one for us because of its impact on loyal Simmons associates,” said Simmons Chairman and CEO Charlie Eitel. “Until recently, we believed our Atlanta facility would continue to be part of our manufacturing network; however, due to weaker than expected business conditions, we simply could not justify maintaining two manufacturing plants in the state of Georgia.”

In 2004, Simmons opened a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Waycross, Ga., which has emerged as one of the top manufacturing plants in the Simmons network. Employing 211 associates, the facility offers excellent safety, quality and service, as well as lower manufacturing costs.

This past April, Simmons reduced its Atlanta production to one shift and moved a portion of business to what is also a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Dallas. The balance of Atlanta’s production will shift to the Waycross and Charlotte plants on September 18.

According to Kimberly Samon, Simmons’ executive vice president of human resources, the company decided to consolidate its southeast manufacturing operations because of reduced utilization. “Due to the current economic situation, our southeastern facilities have not been operating at full capacity,” said Samon. “Consolidating our manufacturing operations resolves that issue; however, we regret that it will negatively impact our Atlanta associates. We have no further plans to close other facilities.”

The Waycross, Dallas and Charlotte plants are three of Simmons’ leading manufacturing facilities: the Waycross plant has been nominated for the Georgia Manufacturer of the Year award each of the past two years and features a new 250,000 square foot building that showcases lean manufacturing; in April 2008, the Dallas plant moved its operations into a brand new facility that includes environmentally-friendly aspects like energy-efficient lighting and high-efficiency air compressors; and the Charlotte plant’s achievements include being selected for OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) by the North Carolina Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Division and receiving the 2003 Tony Saliture Award for Operational Excellence, Simmons’ highest honor.

The closure of the Atlanta facility will result in the layoffs of 91 associates and 12 administrative and management team members, whom Simmons is helping to transition through this difficult time. Nonunion employees will receive severance packages scaled according to tenure, subsidized health insurance for the length of the severance period, outplacement assistance and access to Simmons’ Employee Assistance Program, which includes job, financial and personal counseling. Union employees will receive a severance package that is subject to bargaining with their union.

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Employment Guide: Seniors in the Labor Force Enjoy More Than the Paycheck

GFP Note: There is no admission fee to attend, however business attire is required. Bring your resumes.

The Atlanta Spring Diversity Job Fair will be held at the Cobb Galleria Centre on Tuesday, August 26th from 10a.m. until 2p.m.

Hosted by The Employment Guide in partnership with the AARP Foundation, the event will feature approx. 30 companies recruiting for sales, retail, skilled/tech, restaurant, law enforcement, government, factory/warehouse, customer service, entry-level management, career training institutions, and more.

BUSINESS WIRE --The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the share of the labor force aged 55 and older, currently at 17 percent, is rising rapidly and, by 2020, it is projected to be nearly 24 percent. The graying of the labor force can be attributed to many factors: longer life expectancy, significant increases in healthcare costs—and boredom.

Chuck Byes spent his entire career as president and owner of Carriers Traffic Service, Inc., a consultant to the motor common carrier industry assuring strict adherence to government regulations for its truck-line clients. As deregulation increased, Byes’ client base dwindled, and he was forced to close the office and retire. Byes was only 59.

Finding himself with unexpected free time, Byes took to the road in his RV: “I visited every traceable relative, some more than once, enjoyed every national park, forest and monument, some more than once, and learned that travelling with your own kitchen, bath and sleeping accommodations doesn’t save you that much money in restaurant and motel expenses,” he mused. “Truth be told, I was bored.”

For several years Byes took on odd jobs in consulting and real estate, yet he says he was unfulfilled and, at his age, thought he had few prospects for finding a rewarding job: “I was 72 years old, reasonably healthy, reasonably alert, but with nothing useful to do. To my way of thinking at the time, I had little chance of finding anything beyond greeting customers at the local supermarket.”

Enter AARP Foundation and The Employment Guide. Thanks to the guidance of AARP Foundation representative Donna Martin at the Department of Economic Security office in Mesa, Arizona, Byes secured a job as circulation manager for The Employment Guide’s Phoenix office.

“I’m useful here, I get to use my mind, and I get paid every two weeks! Life is good!” he exclaims.

To help bring together more older workers with meaningful jobs, The Employment Guide (www.EmploymentGuide.com) and AARP Foundation (www.AARP.org/foundation), have partnered in the Employ the Older Workers Job Fair Series—a national effort, reaching more than 55 cities. From late August through October, thousands of job seekers age 40 and older will have the opportunity to meet and interview with employers for a wide variety of positions in industries such as hospitality, retail, government, transportation, telecommunications and customer service.

The job fair series is being held in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Employ Older Workers Week, Sept. 22-26, 2008.

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Emory Rated as 'Great College To Work For'

Emory University has been recognized in an online survey conducted by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the 2008 "Great Colleges to Work For."

Emory was rated among the top five in 13 of 27 categories in the survey of 15,000 respondents at 89 colleges and universities. Results are reported for small, medium and large universities, with Emory included among the large universities with 2,500 or more employees.

"This is a very satisfying affirmation of Emory, but our real goal is not recognition -- it's being a community that values the needs and contributions of every individual. In that sense everyone at Emory helps to make this a positive place to work," says Emory University President James Wagner.

Emory ranked among the top five universities in the nation for:

• Healthy faculty/administration relations
• Teaching environment
• Facilities and security
• Job satisfaction
• Work-life balance
• Confidence in senior leadership
• Internal communications
• Connection to institution and pride
• Physical workspace conditions
• Supervisor or department chair relationship
• Perception and confidence in fair treatment
• Respect and appreciation
• Engagement index

The assessment process, which also included an analysis of demographic data and workplace policies at each participating college or university, was administered by ModernThink LLC, a human-resources consulting firm that has conducted many "Best Places to Work" surveys.

With 21,129 employees (and approximately 3,200 faculty), Emory is the largest employer in DeKalb County and the largest private employer in metro Atlanta. The total includes Emory University, Emory Hospital, Crawford Long Hospital, The Emory Clinic and Wesley Woods, Inc.

Governor Perdue Announces Commissioner of Department of Technical and Adult Education

Governor Sonny Perdue announced that the state board overseeing the Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) has unanimously approved Ron Jackson as the new commissioner of the department. The vote came during the board’s monthly meeting in Augusta. Jackson has served as the interim commissioner of DTAE since the retirement of former commissioner Mike Vollmer in November 2006. Jackson joined the agency in 2004 as its deputy commissioner.

“Ron Jackson brings with him several years of leadership experience within state government,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “His dedication to Georgia’s education system will continue to provide our citizens excellent lifelong adult education and training.”

Carl Swearingen, the chairman of the DTAE board, praised Jackson’s appointment. “Ron has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and careful management of DTAE over the past year,” said Swearingen. “Our entire board agrees that our colleges, the students, faculty and staff, and all of the agency’s programs are going to be well-served by Ron as the new commissioner.”

Jackson served as the deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) from 2002 to 2004. Previously, he was OPB’s director of strategic planning, research and evaluation. He worked for three governors during his tenure at the Office of Planning and Budget and was closely involved with Georgia’s results-based budgeting and the development of the state’s web-based financial management system. Jackson also advised the Education Reform Study Commission.

The Department of Technical and Adult Education manages the 33 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia and also administers Quick Start, the state’s internationally-known workforce development program that provides free customized training to new, expanding and existing businesses. In addition, the agency is responsible for providing the adult literacy programs to more than 84,000 Georgians annually.

Almost 141,000 students enrolled in Georgia’s technical colleges in 2007 and 27,000 graduated with either technical certificates of credit, diplomas or associate degrees. Of those graduates, 98.7% are either employed or continuing their education.
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