Manufacturing outlook: continued improvement in operating conditions

Although the Great Recession officially ended in 2009, manufacturing in Montana continued declining through 2010, falling to fewer than 20,000 workers alter the pre-recession level of nearly 24,000. However, both 2011 and 2012 revealed growth for Montana manufacturers, with annual sales increasing to more than $1.3 billion and employment topping 21,000 workers for the first time since the recession's end. Virtually all sectors of Montana manufacturing lost employment during the recession, but most have turned upward since 2010, with the most rapid growth seen in fabricated meals in the primary and fabricated metals sector and computers and electronics. The BBER survey of Montana manufacturers indicates a continued improvement in operating conditions for Montana manufacturers in 2012 compared to 2011. National forecasts call for modest growth in the US and global economies. Oil and gas development in Montana, North Dakota, and Canada will continue to positively impact Montana manufacturing, with increased business at existing manufacturers and several new facilities planned for 2013 and beyond.