EVANSTON, Ill. – Twenty-eight of the nation’s top fifty industrial cities posted gains in manufacturing jobs last year, according to a new report released by Manufacturers’ News Inc. (MNI), a compiler and publisher of information about U.S. manufacturers.  
 
This was an improvement, compared to the 2011 report, in which only 17 cities saw increases. MNI’s full report can be seen here.
 
According to Manufacturers’ News, Houston takes the top spot for industrial employment with 242,212 manufacturing jobs, up 3 percent over last year. New York ranks second with 146,340 jobs, up 3.8 percent. Third-ranked Chicago accounts for 107,413, with no significant change over last year.
 
Notable gains were seen in Grand Rapids, up 7.3 percent; Sunnyvale, up 6.9 percent; Irvine, up 3.3 percent; and Louisville, up 2.7 percent. Losses included Dallas, down 4.4 percent; Los Angeles, down 3.1 percent; and Baltimore, down 2.8 percent. The top 50 cities account for roughly 2.7 million of the nation’s manufacturing jobs or 17 percent, an increase of 13,465 or about a half percent from January 2012’s total.
 
MNI’s city data includes only establishments located within city limits. Each municipality is counted separately from its suburbs and exurbs.