We’ve updated our earlier study on the manufacturing sector in Arizona, which you can access in this presentation.  From this presentation you can get an overview of the U.S. manufacturing sector, as well.

The basic message that Arizona’s manufacturing sector remains highly concentrated in the computer and electronics, and aerospace subsectors continues to be shown in the most recent data.  Several key areas, in particular aerospace and optical, have increased in their concentration of employment in Arizona, relative to other parts of the U.S.  Even semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing (which overall has continued to decline in the percentage of employment that is U.S. based), appears to have grown relative to the U.S. overall.  These are encouraging signs that Arizona is remaining competitive in several critical high-tech manufacturing areas.