Manufacturing is probably the most controversial selection as a critical industry. However, the region still employs over 14,000 workers, with over 10,000 in the Durable Goods Manufacturing portion of the industry; this meets the size criterion for critical industry employment.
| Industry Sector | Number of Establishment | Average Monthly Employment | Average Weekly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 446 | 14,963 | $1,687 |
| Durable Goods Manufacturing | 271 | 10,291 | $1,877 |
| Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing | 175 | 4,672 | $1,267 |
| Food manufacturing | 67 | 2,863 | $1,271 |
| Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing | 13 | 195 | $569 |
| Textile Mills | 3 | 23 | $2,025 |
| Textile product mills | 11 | 75 | $1,013 |
| Apparel manufacturing | 3 | 4 | $988 |
| Leather and allied product manufacturing | 5 | 91 | $778 |
| Wood product manufacturing | 5 | 20 | $1,076 |
| Printing and related support activities | 32 | 294 | $1,020 |
| Chemical manufacturing | 22 | 865 | $1,549 |
| Plastics and rubber products manufacturing | 12 | 175 | $,1244 |
| Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing | 6 | 44 | $981 |
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | 107 | 1,965 | $1,257 |
| Machinery manufacturing | 33 | 2,199 | $2,300 |
| Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 35 | 2,172 | $1,995 |
| Electrical equipment and appliance mfg. | 9 | 233 | $,1235 |
| Furniture and related product manufacturing | 19 | 87 | $1,049 |
| Miscellaneous manufacturing | 39 | 795 | $1,205 |