FEBRUARY 2008: AROUND THE STATE
Manufacturing growth
STATEWIDE
Oregon’s manufacturing job growth slowed but
remained ahead of the national average for 2007. Industrial
employment increased a half percent over 2006, adding 1,103
jobs, according to the 2008 Oregon Manufacturers Directory.
That’s compared with a jump of 1.3% from 2005 to
2006.
The biggest gains were made in the food products sector, which
saw a 6.6% increase in employment.
Dave Zepponi, president of the Northwest Food Processors
Association, says some of that growth can be attributed to a
clustering strategy the industry has been developing in Oregon
over the past five years in an effort to address increased
international competition. One such cluster is located in
southwest Oregon, where manufacturing employment rose 1.5%,
adding 783 jobs, according to the study.
Bolstered by the state funding last year of $3.5 million to
establish the Northwest Food Processors Innovation Productivity
Center in Portland, the food products sector should remain
strong in 2008, Zepponi says.
“There’s growth in the food industry,” he
says. “You’re never going to see huge growth, but
we’re very consistent, and even through recessions, we
grow.”
JAMIE HARTFORD
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