MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- Tennessee’s manufacturing plants continue to be a bright spot in the state’s economic recovery.
The trade magazine Manufacturing News reports that Tennessee plants that make transportation related products experienced dramatic employment growth last year, expanding by nearly 11 percent. Companies that build machinery and plants that do metal fabrication also saw significant gains.
Memphis is Tennessee’s top city for manufacturing employment, followed by Nashville and Chattanooga.
Manufacturing News President Tom Dubin says Tennessee does more than most states to make manufacturers welcome.
“When they’re deciding where to expand or relocate they’re looking at things like highway accessibility, labor costs, availability of skilled labor, available land, energy costs, state and local incentives, and Tennessee does a better job than most states in offering those things.”
Dubin says the report wasn’t all positive. He cites major plant closures in Memphis, Sparta, and Knoxville as setbacks for Tennessee manufacturing employment.