Manufacturing pace quickens in Kansas City Federal Reserve district
Growth in manufacturing accelerated in November, according to surveys in seven states that include Kansas and western Missouri.
An index measuring the growth rate grew to 7 this month from 4 in October, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in a survey of businesses. The index weighs production, new orders, employment, supplier delivery time and raw materials.
Comments from businesses participating in the survey, which was released Friday, included concerns about finding employees. The comments also offered hope for workers in finding jobs or gaining higher wages.
“Skilled workers are very difficult to find. We are losing our skilled employees to larger companies that are offering more money than we can afford,” one said, according to the Fed’s release.
Another said, “Production continues at a record pace. Finding and hiring additional production personnel continues to be our number one challenge.”
The surveys cover Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, western Missouri and northern New Mexico.
To reach Mark Davis, call 816-234-4372 or send email to mdavis@kcstar.com. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter at mdkcstar.
This story was originally published November 21, 2014 at 10:04 AM with the headline "Manufacturing pace quickens in Kansas City Federal Reserve district."