Industrial employment in Colorado increased 1.1 percent over the past 12 months adding 2,428 industrial jobs between May 2010 and May 2011, according to the 2012 Colorado Manufacturing Directory.
The directory, published by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. noted that Colorado is home to 6,669 manufacturers who employ 207,126 employees.
“The recovery is gaining momentum in Colorado and across the U.S.,” said Tom Dubin, president of Manufacturers’ News. “Colorado maintains a strong hold in the wind and solar industries and its educated workforce has been a draw for both domestic and international enterprises.”
The directory said that the bright spots for Colorado include the openings of several “green” facilities, with wind-turbine manufacturer Vestas establishing new locations in Pueblo and Brighton and planning to add 1,000 workers to all three Colorado factories by the end of 2011.
The directory also noted that SMA America expanded its solar component manufacturing plant in Denver, and Fotowatio Renewable Venutres plans a new solar facility at Colorado State University.
Also noted was that solar manufacturer Abound Solar has expanded production at its Longmont plant and Aluwind Inc. a manufacturer of parts for wind turbines opened a facility in Castle Rock.
Electronics manufacturing remains the state’s largest industrial sector with 25,271 manufacturing jobs, up 4 percent over last year.
Second-ranked food products accounts for 23,368 manufacturing jobs, down 1.6 percent over the past 12 months.
Industrial machinery and equipment employs 19,333 of Colorado’s workers, up 4 percent over last year.
Companies that closed in Colorado included RR Donnelly, which closed its printing plant in Greeley, and Packing Corp. of America which shuttered its box plant in Windsor.Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
