Arkansas among top 10 states in pet-related manufacturing jobs

Arkansas is among the top 10 states with highest concentration of employment in animal food manufacturing, employing more than three times the national average, or 1,423 jobs, according to recent data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Iowa employed little more than six times the national average in animal food manufacturing with 3,866 jobs. Kansas, also with a little more than six times the national average, was a close second with 3,436 employees in the sector.

In March 2015, a total of 55,817 people worked in animal food manufacturing, earning an average weekly wage of $1,255. Pet and pet supplies stores employed 113,067, earning an average weekly wage of $418. Veterinary services employed 333,291, earning an average weekly wage of $650.

To measure the concentration of animal food manufacturing by state, BLS culled data from Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program to develop a location quotient, which is based on the number of jobs within a specific area compared to that industry nationwide.  A location quotient greater than 1 means the state has a higher share of employment than the national average.

For example, Iowa and Kansas had a location quotient of 6.33 and 6.23, respectively. Arkansas ranked seventh behind Nebraska (6.11), Missouri (4.02), South Dakota (3.52) and Vermont (3.18) with a quotient of 3.00.

On the lower end of the spectrum, Massachusetts, Hawaii and Connecticut all had fewer than 100 workers in the animal food manufacturing space. Massachusetts and Hawaii both had a location quotient of only 0.03, and employee only 46 and 7 workers, respectively, in industries tied to animal manufacturing. There were 79 jobs in pet-related industries in Connecticut, which had a quotient of 0.12.

To view animal food manufacturing data by state, or find location quotient information for other industries, click here.