The New York State Department of Labor’s labor statistics department is reporting 8,900 manufacturing jobs in the county for the month of December – marking the lowest number on record. According to the Post-Journal, a total of 2,500 manufacturing jobs have been lost in the past eight years.

Both local and state officials say the loss in manufacturing job is mostly attributed a number of local companies that were bought out by national and international companies, and then either closed down the local operation or moved it to another state.

Some of the manufacturing plants that have either closed down or relocated in recent years include the Zurn Industries in Falconer, Crawford Furniture in Jamestown, Premier Lakewood, and Carriage House in the north county, which was the largest job loss in the county during the 8 year period.

Both State Senator Cathy Young and Congressman Tom Reed, along with other local and regional leaders, have said the growth of manufacturing jobs in the region is a top priority while they are in office.