State still shedding factory workers

Illinois continues to bleed manufacturing jobs, but a survey released Wednesday showed the losses have slowed.

The 2008 Illinois Manufacturers Directory, published by Evanston-based Manufacturers' News Inc., said the state lost 1.5 percent of industrial jobs in the past year, compared to 2.7 percent the year before.

Illinois lost 14,357 industrial jobs and 425 manufacturers from November 2006 to November 2007, the report said.

"This loss is closer to the national average (of 1.6 percent)," said Thomas Dubin, chief executive officer and president of Manufacturers' News. "So it hasn't been as terrible, but we won't see a turnaround any time soon."

The group, which has produced the annual survey since 1912, tracks the health of the manufacturing industry.

It said Illinois is still home to 21,503 manufacturers employing 935,032 workers.

Illinois Manufacturers' Association spokesman Jim Nelson said the volatility of the economy is hitting manufacturing jobs.

"This is reflective of the economy in general and shows just how much it's been bouncing around for a while," Nelson said.

The Illinois Manufacturers Directory survey also found Cook County suffered most of the state's decline, down 4 percent over the year.

Some collar counties gained manufacturing jobs, including Lake County, up 2.8 percent; DeKalb County, up 2.4 percent; Kane County, up 3.6 percent, and Will County, up 5.3 percent.